3 Tips To Make Brushing Count

Many of our patients at The Reno Dentist want to know if they are brushing their teeth properly. That might seem surprising, because brushing your teeth seems so straight-forward. But it’s easy to get into bad habits, and if we can correct any with tips, it really makes our day.

Having patients come for treatment and leave with questions answered—from which toothpaste to buy to proper tools and techniques—is our business. We are all about educating our patients. Sometimes our tips on brushing teeth are as easy as 1-2-3.

1 Soft Bristle Toothbrush

Gentle brushing will achieve the same results as hard bristle brushing without the abrasive damage to gums and gum line. There is never a good reason to use hard or medium bristle toothbrushes. Better yet, wet the soft bristle toothbrush to be sure the bristles are flexible before brushing.

2 Minutes of Brushing and Flossing

Split the mouth into fourths and spend a good 30 seconds in each quarter. Hit the chewing surfaces, the inside surfaces, the outside surfaces and gently massage the gums. Be sure to reach the far side of the back tooth that is never visible but can collect food and allow dental caries to begin. Take two minutes to floss after brushing in the evening to remove any remnants the toothbrush couldn’t coax out and to clean any build-up. You have approximately 32 teeth and 32 gaps to floss clean. Two minutes should do the trick, but adding an extra minute for good measure can’t hurt.

3 Times a Day

Brushing after every meal should be the goal. This is difficult for many who are not home for the midday meal. To achieve fantastic dental hygiene, brushing is priority one. There are as many toothpaste choices out there as you have teeth; without consistent brushing and flossing, those teeth are facing sure destruction. Don’t misunderstand, toothpaste is critical. Toothpaste acts as the vehicle that collects the debris, keeps the bristles pliable, fluoridates the mouth, freshens the breath and a myriad of other side jobs. But after every meal, gently removing food debris prevents breakdown on precious tooth surfaces. Even if you don’t use toothpaste after lunch, a quick brush can keep your teeth free of build-up.

At The Reno Dentist, the dental health of our patients is always our top priority. Our services include general and family dentistry, and a wide range of cosmetic dentistry procedures. Schedule an appointment today.

Contact The Reno Dentist:

775-323-0700

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

855 W Seventh St Ste 200
Reno, Nevada
89503