812-853-3313Family Dentistry would like to share Toothbrushing 101 with all to promote healthy habits for the protection of the teeth for a lifetime. Toothbrushing 101 includes 10 Healthy Habits. 1.  Make Sure To Use the Correct Toothbrush.  Consider the size of the brush in relationship to the size of your mouth. The handle of the toothbrush should be comfortable with the grip of your hand. Electric or manual is dependent upon the preference of the brusher. A good brusher can do a great job with a manual or an electric toothbrush. 2. Choose the Right Bristles. The bristles can be angled or can be straight. The angle of the brushes does not matter- only the technique that is used. If the bristles are too stiff, this can result in aggravating the gums. The ADA recommends a soft-bristled brush. The bristles need to be strong enough to remove plaque but not hard enough to damage the teeth. 3. Brush Often Enough and Long Enough.  Three times a day to brush is the best for your teeth. If a lot of time between brushing, bacterial plaque can build and create more problems with the gums. Brushing should last for two minutes, however 3 minutes would be best. This should entail 30 seconds for each quadrant which is the 2 parts of the upper mouth and the 2 parts of the lower mouth. 4. Do Not Brush Too Often or Too Hard. Brushing your teeth 3 times a day is ideal however more than that is counter productive. Excessive brushing can irritate the roots of the teeth and can create gum irritation.  Tooth enamel can also be damaged with too hard of brushing. Continue to check out our blog on 5 more Healthy Habits or for more information on this topic.  Drs. Ogle, Schmitz, Hart, and Fickas encourage proper toothbrushing to promote healthy teeth for a lifetime.
10655 State Road 662, Newburgh, IN 47630