What Is the Best Technique for Brushing?

There are a number of effective brushing techniques. One effective, easy-to-remember technique involves using a circular or elliptical motion to brush a couple of teeth at a time, gradually covering the entire mouth. Place a toothbrush beside your teeth at a 45-degree angle and gently brush teeth in an elliptical motion. Brush the outside of the teeth, inside the teeth, your tongue and the chewing surfaces and in between teeth.

Using a back and forth motion is NOT recommended because it has been shown to cause gum recession, exposing the root surface of the tooth which makes it more sensitive to heat and cold. You also risk wearing down the gum line.

What Kind of Brush Should I use?

In general, a toothbrush head should be small (1" by 1/2") for easy access. It should have a long, wide handle for a firm grasp. It should have soft, nylon bristles with round ends. Hard or Medium brushes are too abrasive and can wear down teeth. A soft, rounded, multi-tufted brush will clean your teeth effectively. Press just firmly enough to reach the spaces between the teeth as well as the surface.

How long should I brush?

It might be a good idea to brush with the radio on, because a recommended brushing time is 3-4 minutes, the length of an average song. Several electric brushes available on the market have timers build in for your convenience. Patients generally think they're brushing longer, but most spend less than a minute brushing. To make sure you're doing a thorough job and not missing any spots brush the full 3-4 minutes twice a day, instead of brushing quickly five or more times through the day.

Should I brush at work?

We recommend everyone to brush after every meal. So, if you eat or snack at luch time, brushing afterward is highly beneficial. While we understand that it might be considered a hassle, an interesting survey by Oral-B Laboratories and the Academy of General Dentistry has shown that if you keep a toothbrush at work, the chances you will brush during the day increase by 65 percent. Getting the debris off teeth right away stops sugary snacks from turning to damaging acids, and catches starchy foods like potato chips before they turn to cavity-causing sugar. If you brush with fluoride toothpaste in the morning and before going to bed, you don't even need to use toothpaste at work. You can just brush and rinse before heading back to your work space. For those times when the tooth brush is absolutely unavailable, rinsing your mouth with mouth wash for 30 seconds after lunch will prove to be beneficial.