It is recommended by the American Dental Association that patients of all ages brush their teeth twice a day. Combined with a daily habit of flossing, this creates a foundation for effective daily oral hygiene habits. When brushing your teeth, it’s important to use a hygienic, high-quality toothbrush to keep your gums in good shape.
If you aren’t consistent in your oral health habits, you could be allowing residual plaque and food particles to become tartar that sticks to your teeth and gums. Tartar heightens your risk of cavities and problems with your periodontal health.
Brush your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush and mildly abrasive fluoride toothpaste that are recommended by the ADA. This ensures that your toothbrush can effectively clean every surface of your teeth, enhance the mineral density of the tooth enamel, and remove lingering plaque from your gum line. Make sure you are focusing on individual teeth at a time and using small, circular motions to clean the whole tooth surface. It should require about two to three minutes of your time to clean all of your teeth.
Over time, you may notice that the bristles of your toothbrush begin to wear out, fray, and bend. In order to ensure your smile benefits from the most effective tooth brushing technique to prevent periodontal disease, you should replace your old toothbrush around the three-to-four-month mark.
When it’s time to choose a new toothbrush, select a product that has the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance, which is a small insignia on the package that proves it has been thoroughly researched and tested by the ADA for effective and safe oral use.
To learn more about how your toothbrush affects your gums, contact Suite Dental in Bozeman, Montana, at 406-602-4100 today and schedule an appointment with our dentist, Dr. Roderick Spencer.