Oral Health At Home

1. When looking for the right toothbrush, it’s simple. Softer bristles are better! Soft bristles do a better job of removing bacteria and loosening plaque from your teeth and gums that can cause gum disease and lead to tooth decay. Softer bristles clean very effectively, even more than hard bristles.

2. Plus, the harder the bristles, the more they can wear down on your gums and your tooth structure.

3. When it comes to the actual brushing, don’t try to scrub your teeth so hard. Think of it like a nice massage.

4. Don’t rush through the brush! Slow it down. You should be spending about 2 minutes each time you brush, twice a day.

5. Think up and down, not side to side. Many people brush aggressively from side to side, but you can actually do some damage when brushing that way. Start from the gum and go up and down in little circular motions.

6. Don’t brush too soon after a meal, a cup of coffee, or glass of wine. If you love coffee (like all of us in the office do!) it’s very tempting to feel like you want to clean your mouth asap. However, brushing right away can actually help the acid erode away your teeth! We always tell patients that you’d actually be brushing the coffee’s acidity into your teeth more. Try to wait at least 30 minutes before brushing and swish some water around in the meantime.

As easy as it may seem, we sometimes don’t brush our teeth as well as we could. We hope these quick tips help in your daily oral care!