Are you Brushing Correctly? Find Out From Your Dentist in Worthington

Many of us learned how to complete common hygiene functions at a young age. However, most hygiene routines continue to evolve throughout our lifetimes. Surprisingly, even though many people learn to brush their teeth as children, Dr. LJ Adam has found that most patients have never considered revising their technique or reviewing how effective it is. When’s the last time you paid attention to your tooth-brushing style? Many patients are surprised to hear their routine is not the most effective way to clean their teeth. Find out more by taking the following true/false quiz then contact our office to schedule your next checkup and teeth cleaning.

The Tooth-Brushing Test

Answer the following questions to see how much you know about caring for your smile.

1. True or false – You should brush your teeth two times a day for at least a minute at a time.
2. True or false – You should use a hard-bristled toothbrush to remove plaque.
3. True or false – You should brush teeth in large circles.
4. True or false – You should wait at least half an hour after eating to brush.
5. True or false – You should allow fluoride from toothpaste to remain in place after brushing rather than rinsing your mouth with water.
6. True or false – You should systematically brush each section of the smile rather than brushing randomly.

Grade Your Tooth-Brushing Test

So how do you think you did? If you think you aced it, you may be surprised. Here are the answers to your tooth brushing test:

1. False – Well, half the statement is false. You need to brush at least twice a day, but you should continue brushing for at least two minutes at a time. Contrary to some patient belief, plaque isn’t really removed by tough brushing. It just takes time to gently release the decay causing plaque.
2. False – Brushing with inflexible bristles will not release more plaque, and it might damage your soft tissues. We recommend manual and electric toothbrushes with soft or ultra soft bristles.
3. False – Large circles that many patients use to brush aren’t actually very effective. Many dentists encourage patients to use the Bass Brushing Technique. This simple method requires patients to place the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle toward the gum line on the surface of the tooth. By gentle shifting the toothbrush back and forth (imitating the vibrating motion of an electric toothbrush), plaque is released. This process is completed for the front and back of each tooth, and the biting surfaces are brushed with the bristles flat in short, quick back and forth motions.
4. True – Right after a meal, your surface tooth enamel can be significantly weakened by the acidic plaque produced by bacteria processing the nutrients from your food. About thirty minutes following, the “acid attack” has abated and it’s safe brush.
5. True – We encourage patients to brush their teeth with a fluoridated toothpaste that has the American Dental Association seal. The right oral hygiene products are just as important as the right technique. Then, rinse the brush and gently clean the soft tissue surfaces gums, tongue, and palate. If you brush for the full two minutes, you should be able to spit out excess toothpaste without needing to rinse with water.
6. True – A British Broadcast Corporation documentary in 2015 revealed that simply changing from random to systematic brushing significantly improved the efficacy of patients’ overall oral hygiene routines reducing risk for tooth decay and gum disease.