Taking care of your oral health is vital for your overall health and smile, but how do you know if you’re taking care of your oral hygiene correctly? 

Here, we’ll answer some of the different questions about toothbrushing, including how long you should brush, and other techniques to get the best tooth cleaning experience. 

How long should I brush my teeth? 

The best time is about two minutes. While this might seem like forever, a timer makes it a little more fun. Some toothbrushes have this built in and will turn off once you’ve finished brushing for two minutes. 

Is it possible to brush your teeth too much? 

Brushing for over two minutes won’t’ harm the teeth, as long as you’re gently doing it. 

If you’re using far too much pressure, it wears down the enamel, and your gums, which does lead to inflamed gums and sensitive teeth. 

If you find that you’re brushing for too long, you should try to use a non-dominant hand, to understand the differences in pressure you’re using. 

What’s the Best Technique to use 

You can control and prevent gum disease by brushing under and around the gumline where the plaque and bacteria accumulate. There are three methods that are used. 

Bass or Sulcular Techniques 

The Bass type is brushing using bristles to get the biofilm off the teeth, along with on the gums.  It’s pretty effective for reducing plaque and works better at reducing gingivitis rather than the typical horizontal methods. 

To do this, you need to: 

• Hold your toothbrush parallel to the teeth and then tilt it at a 45 degree angle 
• Angle it so it’s right under the gumline 
• Using a firm yet gentle sort of pressure, e brush your bristles back and forth utilizing a circular motion about 15 to 20 times before moving on 
• Brush the outer parts and the backside with this. 
• Hold this in a vertical manner behind the front teeth brushing up and down with the bristles 
• Brush the molars and the tongue 

Stillman 

This works like the bass technique, but rather than circles, you utilize the back and forth on the surfaces 

Charter 

This is good for those with spaces between the teeth, recession of the gums, roots that are exposed, or have had periodontal surgery 

To do this, you need to do the following; 

• Take the bristles and place them at a 45 degree angle and point these towards the chewing surface of the crown 
• Brush or vibrate for about 15 to 20 seconds, using small motions 
• Brush the teeth in the same manner, including the sides and tooth surfaces. 

With this, you’ll also find that it works well for those that have orthodontic appliances, since it’s hard to get in between the teeth. 

Modifications 

There are modifications to these techniques, and if you have trouble with brushing it is encouraged. 

Ideally, you should follow the method that best fits your needs and try to make sure that you get the bristles around the teeth and gums. 

There are medications that literally sweep the debris out and cleans the teeth, and they’re good for you. 

What should I use to Brush my Teeth 

Obviously, a toothbrush is the best thing to have. You can get an electric or manual.  You also should get fluoride toothpaste to improve the strength of the teeth. 

If the toothbrush is looking worn and frayed, you want to replace this, as it will not clean the areas thoroughly, and also may contain bacteria, which hampers your efforts too.