" This is how we brush our teeth, brush our teeth, brush our teeth..."

One of my favorite TV shows when I was younger was" Bill Nye, The Science Guy", this probably doesn't comes as a shocker to those who know me. Anyways, they always had this part in the show called " DID YOU KNOW..."(narrated by some big booming voice coming from within a tunnel ) and then a kid would rattle off some little tidbit of information or random fact. So in honor of Bill Nye.

"DID YOU KNOW" That there is a right way and wrong way to brush your teeth?

It's true, in fact even the choice of toothbrush can have an effect on you oral health. So yes, it does matter. and "NOW YOU KNOW".

I try to go down the dental section often when I am out and about at target or other discount stores ; I do this so I can see the overwhelming amount of choices that my patients are facing when choosing there dental products. In a way, this wide variety of choices are good because we are all so different and sometimes need specific dental aids for our conditions but in another way it is bad because I see people choosing products that they don't need and is in fact doing more harm than good to their teeth and gums.

First things first, choosing a toothbrush.

Once upon a time when we used to pull teeth out as a remedy for toothaches, it had been recommended that everyone should use a Hard bristled toothbrush. Erase this from your memory. This is wrong. Times have changed. Studies, and research have shown (and much to our benefit )we now know this was a bad idea. Much like pulling teeth was a bad idea , (we know we can save the tooth with a filling or root canal and put a happy beautiful crown on it and have it for the rest of your life enjoying and chewing food. the benefit of restoring teeth instead of pulling teeth=good idea. )It is now recommended that we use a SOFT bristle toothbrush.

I know, I know, I have heard the excuses: "but i was told to use hard since I was little..., it just doesn't feel it gets as clean" But the fact is Hard bristles actually do not flex as well as the soft bristle. So, in reality they do not get into those tiny grooves, pits and fissures as well either. Also after many years of using hard bristles we now are seeing the result: Generalized GUM RECESSION, and SENSITIVE teeth, which leads you to see a gum specialist (periodontist) for grafting...

easy solution= switch to soft bristle

If you cannot find a soft bristle buy a children's toothbrush they are usually softer and and smaller which is an advantage and brings me too my next point.

When purchasing a toothbrush, purchase one with a compact head. yes this does mean you might have to spend more time than you usually do brushing(like two minutes, crazy)but the advantage of a compact toothbrush will help you to get to those hard to reach areas like in the back. and since most of us do not have a flip top Head like that old reach commercial , this will greatly help. (tip when brushing the upper molars i.e. the teeth in the very back, close your mouth half way this allows for more room, and allows you to easily access or brush the teeth)

Think = Less is More

HOW TO BRUSH

When brushing we should not take our stress out on our teeth, so please do not scrub them like your cleaning the grout in your tiles. This leads to More gum recession and toothbrush abrasion.

Instead, of grasping your tooth brush with your whole hand, grasp it with the tip of two fingers and a thumb, this allows for a light grasp and light pressure.

Instead ,of scrubbing the teeth back and forth, you will need to retrain your brain. You will want to angle the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle toward the gums and with gentle pressure move in small circular motion, like a massage. See how happy that sounds . Make sure to brush all surfaces of the teeth. Inside and outside and also the chewing surfaces as well. Don't forget to brush the tongue.

Also, as mentioned above, if you are having a hard time getting to the teeth in the very back, especially the upper molars, you are not alone. Most of us are brushing with our mouth wide open, but trying to get your tooth brush back there... most likely is not happening. It just will not fit. This is because the muscle in your cheek is preventing it and pushing your toothbrush towards the front of the mouth. The solution= When brushing the upper molars on the side facing you cheek , close down half way this relaxes the cheek, and provides more room for your toothbrush. Brilliant!

Now if you happen to have an electric toothbrush it is a bit different. My motto for electric toothbrushes is ;" let your money work for you " you spent a lot of money on that toothbrush now you need to let it do its job. You would not go out and hire someone and then do their job for them, would you? I didn't think so. These electric toothbrushes are made well and almost all now have sonic technology and thankfully, now they have also made the bristles softer and the heads more compact. Couldn't ask for more. So with an electric toothbrush, all you need to know is place the toothbrush on the tooth(at a 45 degree angle) and move it from tooth to tooth. Leave it on the tooth anywhere from 5-10 sec each. And that's it !

How to brush Break down

Manual

• Choose a SOFT bristle COMPACT toothbrush
• Use a TWO-FINGER GRASP
• Angle toothbrush at a 45 degree angle toward the gum line
• With gentle pressure move the brush in small CIRCULAR motion

Electric

• Angle the brush at a 45 degree angle
• Place on tooth about 5-10 seconds
• Move from tooth to tooth
• No SCRUBBING NO CIRCLES
• LET YOUR MONEY WORK FOR YOU
  
  
  Many of my patients ask me what is better,the electric or manual toothbrush?It really depends on you. Some patients build up a lot of plaque or do not have the dexterity to get to all the places they need to. In these cases an electric toothbrush is probably right for them. But I have also seen patients who do a fantastic job with a manual toothbrush and come in with barely anything on there teeth . (this makes me happy) If ain't broke don't fix it.

Braces are a different story and nowadays we recommend an electric toothbrush for anyone in braces it is just so much easier to keep clean. Although if this isn't possible there is a manual tooth brush where the bristle are shaped into a "V" like shape when looking at the toothbrush head at a whole .The purpose is to make it easier to brush around the brackets. When brushing around braces it is like you are brushing four times because you must clean under the brackets, over the bracket. directly on the bracket and don't forget to clean the other sides of you teeth such as the inside and the chewing surfaces. whew...it's a lot of work but it is important to be consistent or you will end up with little white spots where your teeth have demineralized from the plaque sitting on your teeth or even worse decay. All that time in braces for spots we wouldn't want that.

Recommendations for patients with disabilities or arthritis

Get an electric tooth brush it is easy to hold and easy to use.

If that is not an option, get a tennis ball and puncture a hole large enough to stick a tooth brush in. Then stick the toothbrush through the ball. This helps those with arthritis to grasp the ball (and it is soft) and still manipulate the toothbrush : )

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  IF you still have questions don't hesitate to bring your toothbrush or other dental aid with you to the dentist. Most dentists and hygienists will be happy to trouble shoot with you and help you figure out what you are doing right and what you are doing wrong.
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_lOfpMmlHA this is a fun video which reviews what I have discussed in a nutshell and actually shows a demonstration of how to brush and floss.