Don’t let your teeth become vulnerable to cavities and decay. Brush them correctly with practical tips from Dr. Timothy Roney, DDS & Associates, that will protect you for many years. 

Many people are surprised to learn that, for years, they have been brushing their teeth the wrong way. Brushing your teeth the wrong way may cause oral health problems. Learn how to brush your teeth correctly, and you will protect them for many years.

Dentist in Shelby Charter Township, MI 48316

The standard way people brush their teeth is the back-and-forth motion, similar to sawing back and forth until you feel like your teeth are clean and slippery. This is the wrong way to brush your teeth. This motion causes you to scrub away tooth enamel, making your teeth sensitive to hot and cold liquids and food much sooner than usual. This sawing motion is very abrasive to your teeth and gums. Over-brushing can increase your chances of developing cavities and receding gums. This method also does not clean effectively. Since the bristles are moving back and forth, they bounce from one tooth to the next, which causes you to miss the spaces between the teeth to remove plaque and other tiny particles of food.

So what is the proper way to brush your teeth? Start by placing your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle where the teeth meet the gums. Then gently move your toothbrush back and forth and making sure the bristles cover each tooth and work their way around the sides of the tooth. This method allows you to find all of the food particles and plaque in the spaces between your teeth. 

The importance of brushing your teeth properly is overlooked, but it is essential to keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Using the proper method to brush your teeth will prevent harmful plaque build-up and can lead to many oral health problems. Brushing properly will prevent:

• Gingivitis: a gum disease that develops when there is plaque beneath the gum line and separates the teeth from the gums
• Cavities: permanent damages in the form of a tiny hold on the hard surface of the teeth
• Tooth Decay: damage that occurs when bacteria in your mouth make acids that eat away at a tooth

It’s not easy to relearn brushing after using one method. Switching over will take some time, but the results will speak for themselves. If you have any questions regarding the correct brushing method, please get in touch with our Shelby Charter Township, MI 48316 dental office.

AboutDr. Timothy Roney