3 Brushing Mistakes You Could Be Making

Hello, and welcome to our new dental blog.  Kremers, Forbes & Associates is proud to serve Kansas families with offices in Mission and our new office in Shawnee.  In between your office visits, we encourage you to reach out to us, interact with us, and let us know of any questions or concerns you may have!

Brushing your teeth is important.  Really important.  However, proper form is just as important as the number of times and the length of time you brush.  Remember, twice per day brushing for at least two minutes.  Once per day flossing.  That’s the winning recipe!  Let’s take a look at a few of the most common brushing mistakes so you can be sure you’re giving your teeth the scrubbing they deserve.

• Remember the 45-degree rule.  Hold your brush so that the bristles are gently pressed against your teeth and gum line.  Move your brush in small, circular strokes.  Don’t push too hard and don’t move the brush side-to-side.  Again, small circles.  If you’d like to step up to a SoniCare or comparable electronic model, it can make your brushing MUCH more effective.
• Scrape your tongue.  Our tongues carry lots and lots of bacteria.  We all remember to brush and floss daily but often neglect our tongue.  A tongue scraper can be purchased at any major retailer, and can be a valuable tool in your oral health care arsenal.  After your brush, scrape your tongue for about 30 seconds.  Scraping removes the bad bacteria associated with bad breath and tooth decay.  Brush, floss, tongue, rinse.
• This old brush.  Your brush is going to wear out, usually around every 3 months.  You’ll notice the bristles start to fray, especially when your brush is becoming more and more ineffective.  Make sure you’re changing brushes quarterly (at least) and keep your brush head covered and put away in a drawer or cabinet.  Lots of nasty bathroom bacteria can float onto your brush.  No need to gross you out, but it’s true.  Take good care of your brush, keep one with clean and fresh bristles, and utilize the 45-degree rule to get the best brushing possible for your smile!

That’s it!  That’s the big 3!  If you have questions, concerns or ideas you’d like to see us discuss, contact us on Facebook or Twitter or send us an e-mail.

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