Brushing Helps Protect Your Teeth

Brushing your teeth is by far and away the most important way of keeping them clean, healthy and free from decay. Effective brushing is the first line of defense against a whole series of nasty and unpleasant dental health concerns that could cause you a lot of pain, embarrassment and expense throughout your life.

Dentists recommend that you brush your teeth at least twice a day for three minutes. It is recommended to use a soft-bristled brush, unless told otherwise by your dentist for specific reasons, as they are the best at removing plaque and ultimately that is the number one aim of tooth brushing. Plaque is the sticky, filmy substance that coast teeth and releases acids which eventually break down enamel and cause cavities. If left untreated, dental cavities will worsen until the enamel is breached and the sensitive inner part of the tooth including the dental nerve is exposed to bacteria and infection. This can be very unpleasant and the source of severe pain and ultimately tooth loss.

When brushing it is important to angle the brush at 45 degrees to the gums so that they are also gently cleaned. This helps to keep plaque off the gums and prevent gum disease, the number one cause of tooth loss in India. Using a small-headed toothbrush is also recommended because it allows easier access to more parts of the mouth.

Although brushing is very important, it is also still a good idea to floss your teeth at least once a day as this helps to remove plaque and food debris from between the teeth. As well as this, it is also highly important to make sure you keep up six-monthly appointments with the dentist as even the most rigorous brushing can still be affected by decay and disease.