One common mistake is to choose the wrong equipment. The head of your toothbrush should be small enough to reach right to the back of your mouth, and it should be easy to manipulate into all the nooks and crannies. If you have a very small mouth then you may even want to choose a child sized brush; it doesn’t really matter, as long as it gets the job done.
The bristles on the brush don’t need to be very hard, and should be gently rounded at the ends. If your toothbrush bristles are too stiff then they could irritate or damage your teeth and gums. It is not unusual to see people with gum recession, or damaged teeth due to brushing too hard with a hard bristled brush.
It is down to you as to whether you choose a manual or electric brush. Studies have shown both can be equally effective, provided your brushing technique is good. However if you struggle to hold a toothbrush then you may find an electric brush easier to manipulate. Another advantage of choosing an electric brush is that they include built-in timers that will alert you when your two minutes are up.
You need to brush twice a day, spending two minutes each time. The reason for this is because plaque bacteria build up on the teeth over the course of the day, and they must be removed to keep your teeth and gums healthy. If you fail to brush your teeth twice a day then the plaque bacteria will harden into a substance called calculus or tartar, and this can only be removed during professional teeth cleaning. Calculus will irritate your gums, causing them to become infected and inflamed, and you are likely to develop gum disease or an even more destructive condition called periodontal disease. This is an extremely serious condition and is the main reason teeth are lost. Even worse, periodontal disease can affect your general health and has been linked to numerous other serious health conditions including heart disease and diabetes.
It is important to clean all the surfaces of your teeth, and it can be easiest to think of your mouth as being split into four different quarters or quadrants. This way you can concentrate on one quadrant at a time, spending approximately 30 seconds cleaning all the teeth in this section.
Squeeze a pea-sized amount of good quality fluoride toothpaste onto your damp toothbrush. Start with the outside surfaces of your teeth, holding the toothbrush at a 45° angle. This will ensure that the bristles reach right down to the gum margin which is the junction where the teeth meet the gums, and to just below the margin, an area where plaque can easily build up. Use small circular motions to clean all the outside surfaces of your teeth before moving on to the chewing surfaces, and repeating the same action on the inner surfaces of your teeth.
If you use an electric toothbrush it will probably alert you once 30 seconds has passed so you know exactly when to move on to the next quadrant. Otherwise you may want to place a small timer in your bathroom so you can see exactly how long you spend cleaning your teeth. It is surprisingly easy to overestimate the time spent brushing your teeth.
Once the 2 minutes are up you should be able to feel that all the surfaces of your teeth are clean, simply by running your tongue around your mouth. Spit out the excess toothpaste but you don’t need to rinse your mouth. This will allow the fluoride ions in the toothpaste to continue protecting and strengthening your tooth enamel for a little longer.
*Source: Canadian Health Measures Survey
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Dr. Harland: 604.943.7421
Dr. Greene: 604.943.9394
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Fantastic Team, Exceptional Service
"Dr. Leslie and his team has been incredible to work with over the years. I've had quite a few dental emergencies over the years from competitive sports and they have been available and helpful every single time at any notice. Appreciate very much the excellent service!"
Jason M
Highly Recommended
"Nice staff works here. Always very friendly. Explains what your challenges are and how to prevent things from getting worse. I will continue to go here for my cleanings and dental work from Dr. Larry. Nice guy."
Ross
Just call us or use our convenient online form to request an appointment.
Dr. Harland:
Call 604.943.7421
Dr. Greene:
Call 604.943.9394
Our high quality full service dental practice is located in Delta (Tsawwassen) BC, serving the surrounding areas of 56th Street Tsawwassen, South Delta, Point Roberts, Boundary Bay and Ladner. Dr. Tom Greene and Dr. Sarah Harland provide dental services, cosmetic dentistry and related services to children, families and adults. Schedule an Appointment
Dr. Sarah Harland (who recently took over the practice of Dr. Larry Leslie) and Dr. Tom Greene are experienced dentists living in the community who are equally dedicated to providing high quality dental care. They maintain separate practices within the shared offices of Tsawwassen Place Dental Clinic. Patient education forms an important part of both their practices, and they are devoted to helping their patients maintain optimal oral health. Learn more
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