Brushing

Keeping your teeth clean and healthy

If you’re like most people, you probably don’t give much thought to If you’re not sure which type of brush will be best you or your
how you brush your teeth, beyond squirting on some toothpaste and family, check with your dentist.
scrubbing back and forth. But as your dentist will tell you, how you
brush your teeth matters a great deal. General tips
How often you brush, how long you brush, the kind of technique Tempting as it is to think that pressing harder on your teeth equals
and the toothbrush you use all impact on the effectiveness of a better clean, the fact is that too much pressure can damage your
your brushing. For instance, did you know you should brush for a gums and tooth enamel. If the bristles are wearing out on your
minimum of two minutes, twice a day? Most people don’t come close toothbrushes well before the three-month mark, you’re pressing too
to brushing for that long often brushing their teeth quickly hard and you should ask your dentist to show you a less damaging
and distractedly. technique.
Replacing your brush, whether manual or powered, should take
It’s all in the timing place when the bristles start to spread apart, or every three months,
To gain the maximum benefit from brushing your teeth, you should whichever comes first.
brush for at least two minutes morning and night.
One fun way to make sure you spend time brushing your teeth is to
The importance of the right toothpaste
fire up your streaming service, and play your favourite pop song; kids
especially benefit from this method. While there are a lot of toothpastes on the market, you should
choose one that contains fluoride. When added to toothpaste,
fluoride strengthens teeth, making them more resistant to attacks
Brushing with a manual toothbrush
from sugar and acid, thereby preventing decay. Fluoride can also help
Soft-bristled toothbrushes with a small head and a flexible neck remineralise (heal or reverse) early decay. Depending on your risk of
are most effective in removing plaque and debris from your teeth, dental decay your dentist will recommend a type of toothpaste best
without damaging your teeth and gums. suited to you.
Teeth should be cleaned systematically, starting at the back with the
toothbrush bristle at the gum line on a 45° angle, brushing gently Fluoride toothpaste for children
in a circular motion. If you scrub too hard from side to side, you run Unless it’s recommended by your dentist, the general consensus is
the risk of causing your gums to recede, as well as damaging the that you shouldn’t use toothpaste when cleaning the teeth of children
tooth enamel. Take care to brush carefully along the inner, outer and under 18 months of age. Instead, use a small soft toothbrush and
chewing surfaces, making sure you tip the toothbrush so you can simply use tap water to wet the brush. Use a pea-sized amount of
reach the inner front areas of the teeth, which are often missed. low fluoride toothpaste (sometimes labelled junior or children’s) for
children aged 18 months to six years. Adults should always supervise
And while it may seem strange at first to brush your tongue, it
children brushing their teeth until the age of eight to ensure they
reduces the bacteria in your mouth and helps your breath stay fresh.
don’t swallow the toothpaste.
All you need to do is push the bristles on the tongue and scrape
gently forward.
Fluoride toothpaste and risk of tooth decay
When you have finished brushing, try to spit out the toothpaste and
If you’re a patient at high risk of developing tooth decay, your dentist
don’t rinse with water. Leaving some toothpaste on your teeth gives
may recommend you use a higher strength fluoride toothpaste.
your teeth some extra ongoing protection.
You may be deemed a person of ‘high decay risk’ if:

Brushing with a powered toothbrush • you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment (braces)

If you have limited dexterity, a powered toothbrush may be a better • your diet is high in sugar or acid
option since it largely does all the work for you.
• you have difficulty brushing your teeth due to arthritis or a disability
Kids enjoy the fun of powered toothbrushes, especially decorated
with their favourite characters. They can also be programmed to run • you have ‘Dry Mouth’, or low amounts of saliva
for two minutes, taking out the guesswork for kids and adults alike
over brushing time. • you’re living in an area without fluoridated water.

The position of the powered toothbrush should be the same as with

a manual toothbrush, at 45°at the gum line. The big advantage of
powered toothbrushes is their oscillating-rotating heads supply all the
movement. All you need to do is guide the brush slowly from tooth
to tooth, stopping for a few seconds on each one, systematically
following the contours of the teeth and the curve of your gums.

For more information on your dental health visit [Link]

[Link]/HealthyTeethAustralia
[Link]/AUS_Dental

Australian Dental Association All Rights Reserved Copyright 2018

Brushing
Correct brushing technique

1 2

Squeeze a pea-sized blob of toothpaste onto a Brush gently using circular motions. If you brush
soft bristled brush. too hard it can harm your gums.

3 4

Brush all the surfaces of your teeth paying special Remember to brush behind your front teeth using
attention to where the tooth meets the gum. This is the tip of the toothbrush.
where plaque builds up.

5
Did you know that it takes
two to three minutes
to brush your teeth properly
but most people only spend
30 seconds or less?

Keep brushing for at least two minutes and do this

morning and night.

For more information on your dental health visit [Link]

[Link]/HealthyTeethAustralia
[Link]/AUS_Dental

Australian Dental Association All Rights Reserved Copyright 2018