Are You Brushing Your Teeth Wrong?
At Zero:Seven, we’re first and foremost a dental practice. Based in Farringdon, we happily provide expert advice and information about a range of dental and facial aesthetic topics. In this post, we’ll be focusing on oral health and how to correctly care for your smile.
When should I brush my teeth?
Twice daily (once in the morning and once in the evening) is always recommended by dentists, ideally after a meal. If you want to use a mouthwash, our dentists suggest having it in the middle of the day, as some types could actually wash away the fluoride from your toothpaste.
How long do I need to brush my teeth for?
You should aim for two minutes on each occasion. This helps give a thorough clean and can help ensure you don’t miss any areas. If you’re struggling to brush, try to split the time up – for example, 1 minute on the top teeth and 1 minute on the bottom ones. You could also try brushing to music or using a timer on your phone. For more tips, ask next time you’re in our dental practice – we’ve lots of good ideas!
What about flossing?
Using dental floss (or tape) or interdental brushes is an essential part of any oral health routine. That’s because they’re cleverly designed to flex and fit around your teeth, helping to scrape away bacteria and food particles that might have collected in tiny gaps throughout your smile. You can’t always see these, so the floss/brushes give an extra level of care. If you’re new to using floss and brushes, you may notice some light bleeding. This should stop after a couple of sessions but if not, get in touch with our dental practice here in Farringdon to check it’s not something more serious, like gum disease.
How do I brush my teeth?
You should use gentle, circular motions on the front and back surfaces of the teeth, and more of a scrubbing back-and-forth motion on the chewing surfaces (the ridged bits!). Our Farringdon dentists caution that you should never swallow toothpaste, as this could lead to spots forming on the teeth (fluorosis).
What type of brush should I use?
Avoid hard-bristled brushes, which are no more effective than soft ones and could actually scrape away precious enamel. Manual toothbrushes may not be quite as effective as electric ones, but most dentists have their own preferences. Speak to us if you want to know more!
How do I book?
Whether it’s a simple check-up or a treatment consultation, we’ve made it easy. Simply click on our contact page for all the details about getting in touch with our expert dentists here in Farringdon today.
