While you may be good at making sure that you brush your teeth every day, it is extremely easy to fall into a routine of bad habits and fail to get the best results.

Did you know that there is a right and a wrong way of brushing your teeth?

Below are some Do’s and Don’ts on proper brushing of teeth.

DO’s

• Use fluorinated toothpaste. Fluoride strengthens the tooth enamel, making it resistant to tooth decay and reduces the amount of acid that the bacteria on the teeth produce
• Brush for at least 2minutes, twice in a day
• Brush all the surfaces of the teeth- including the inner, outer, and chewing surfaces
• Brush your tongue to get-rid of odour-causing bacteria
• Brush along the gumline, and the areas around crowns and other dental restorations
• Use the right toothbrush. Make sure that it is the appropriate size and has soft bristles (hard bristles may cause damage to the gums)
• Replace your toothbrush every 3-4months
• Ensure the right brushing technique, i.e. tilt the brush at 450 angle against the gumline and brush using small circles (not back and forth)
• Use a bean-sized blob of toothpaste on your toothbrush
• Brush after consuming sweet, sticky, and/or sugary foods and drinks. Such can wreak havoc on your teeth.
• Make sure that you effectively rinse the head of your toothbrush before storing it
• Consider an electric toothbrush, especially if you have difficulty in brushing

DON’Ts

• Don’t brush too hard. Too much brushing/ brushing too hard doesn’t mean that your teeth will be cleaner. It instead wears down the enamel and damages gums
• Don’t rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth. Just spit out the toothpaste and allow the fluoride in the toothpaste to stay on the teeth
• Don’t ever share your toothbrush. Doing so could transfer germs and infections
• Don’t forget to brush your back teeth and the hard-to-reach teeth surfaces
• Don’t forget to brush your tongue. Use a brush or scrapper to clean it. This reduces the bacteria ad bad breath
• Don’t keep your toothbrush in a closed container. Allow it to air dry
• Don’t store your toothbrush on the sink counter where bathroom particles can get on it
• Don’t brush your teeth immediately after eating or drinking acidic foods/drinks. Wait for at least 30minutes. Brushing immediately can cause unnecessary damage to your teeth’s enamel. Instead rinse your mouth with plain water or chew sugar-free gums
• Don’t swallow toothpaste. Small children should be supervised while teaching them proper dental habits like brushing teeth

Don’t forget the importance of regular check-ups with your dentist +254716521043