How to Brush Teeth the Right Way

As far as brushing is concerned, the right brushing technique is to clean all the sides of teeth with short back and forth vertical strokes.

* Tilt the brush at 45 degree angle against the gum line for effective cleaning.

* Cover the areas where the teeth and gums meet, and make sure you brush the outside and inside surfaces of upper as well as lower teeth. Tilt the brush for greater reach of inner surfaces of teeth.

* Always brush for a minimum of two to three minutes, so that each tooth gets brushed correctly.

* Brush twice a day and brush gently.

* Use a toothbrush with medium bristles for effective teeth cleaning.

‘And there is no right or wrong tooth paste. Most of them contain fluoride and do not contribute to effective cleaning of the gums. It is the mechanical action of the brush and its angle which determines the cleaning of the teeth’, adds the dentist.

Another important tip: to brush the side of molars (last teeth towards the back of your mouth), you will have to remove the brush from your teeth, close the jaw once so as to aid muscle relaxation and then tilt the brush sideways to brush the sides. The usual brushing procedure does not enable you to brush the molars properly due to tensing of muscles while brushing.