Chances are, most of us have been brushing our teeth up to tens of thousands of times our entire lives, but does practice make perfect? Mastering the art of the brushing goes beyond dental hygiene. To fully reap the health benefits of keeping our pearly whites squeaky clean, here are some tips to brush up on your technique.
How to brush your teeth the right way
For how long should I brush my teeth
Let’s get back to basics! We hope that the common habit practiced among us when it comes to brushing our teeth is brushing them twice a day but what about the nitty-gritty? It is also recommended that your should brush your teeth for at least two minutes a day to help ensure all food particles and plaque are removed.
Brushing your teeth at the right time
There are two compelling reasons why we should watch those hands on the clock.
Firstly, we should begin our day with a clean and fresh palate by brushing our teeth first thing in the morning, BEFORE diving into breakfast. That’s the best time to eliminate the culprit of stale breath, plaque, cavities, etc – all the bacteria that have accumulated overnight.
Secondly, for some of us, we need that morning cuppa before even facing ourselves in the bathroom mirror. But the acid in our Kopi-Os and OJ cuppas in our breakfast platter softens the enamel of our teeth, making them susceptible to erosion when we brush.
As a result, it’s ideal to wait at least half an hour before brushing, so there’s sufficient time for those acids to neutralise. For those in a race for time upon waking up, opting to brush before breakfast is definitely more appealing.
Are you brushing your teeth properly?
Mistakes when brushing your teeth
Are your teeth really clean or are you making these mistakes while brushing?
- Brushing too hard:
You should avoid vigorously raking with your manual toothbrush as it may damage your teeth and gums more than it cleans your teeth.
- Not changing your brush head often:
It is recommended to change your toothbrush at least once every three months as the bristles will fray and not clean your teeth properly.
- Brushing the wrong area of your teeth:
Cavities usually occur on the top of our teeth when we were young, resulting in us only brushing in that area. However, we should be brushing close to our gum line, in between the teeth and at the back of the teeth all at a 45-degree angle.
Make your brushing easier
The ZenyumSonic™ Toothbrush does all the hard work in the best possible way for you. Its 33,000 vibrations a minute create millions of micro-pressure bubbles that lather up with the soft bristles to get into all the hard-to-reach crevices for a thorough clean. And with three different modes: Clean, Gentle, and White, you can choose the brushing experience you desire.
The best part? It has an in-built automatic timer that reminds you when the two minutes are up. How’s that for a smarter way to ensure you are meeting the 2-min mark dentists highly recommend?
