Top 5 tips on how to brush your teeth daily

• Brush at least twice daily
• Be consistent with your daily routine
• Know your mouth
• Floss
• Use the right tools
• Watch a video  

Brush at least twice daily 

Ideally brush your teeth after each meal, specially after eating sweets or sticky food. If not possible brush in the morning before going to work or school and before going to bed. Rinse your mouth with water in between when possible. The most important is to brush beforegoing to bed, try to make it an obligatory habit for your whole life in order to have health teeth.

Be consistent with your daily routine

Knowing what needs to be done is different from making it a daily habit. The most important point here is committing your self to your daily routine just like eating and drinking. Encourage yourself to make this part of your daily obligations. This is how you can maintain a long healthy life cycle for your teeth. When you get used to brushing, you will brush automatically after meals or before going to bed. Some people can’t go to bed without brushing, others can’t sleep without brushing.

Know your mouth

Not every mouth is the same. You need to be aware of your oral health and your overall health condition. Always be aware of any changes in your mouth and do not delay action. Make sure you learn from your hygienist or dentist how to take care of your teeth and gums especially if you have any condition that can impact your oral health. If you can live with some pain it doesn’t mean you are not harming your body on the long term. Don’t rely on analgesics to control oral pain. Taking too many pills to relief pain is not good for your liver, kidneys and certainly not good for your general health. Know your mouth by consulting your dentist. Scheduling regular visits to have a look at your current mouth condition is crucial for maintaining healthy teeth and gums.

Use the right tools

Always pay attention to the tooth brush you are using. It is better to use a toothbrush with medium or soft bristles. Use flossing tape at least once a day. Use mouth wash in between if possible. Use electric toothbrush if using a regular one is difficult for any reason or due to a medical condition. Make sure your toothbrush head is at the right size and not small or to big for your mouth.

Also, brush your tongue gently and you can use a tongue scraper for this purpose. A water irrigator can help remove food debris that are stuck between your teeth and cannot be removed by regular toothbrush. This does not replace the need for visiting your hygienist at least twice a year to clean your teeth.

Is it bad to brush your teeth only once a day?

The recommended number of times for brushing your teeth is three times a day, at least two times of brushing is the minimum. The main idea here is to minimise the formation of plaque that harbours bacteria. This bacteria can cause tooth decay and cavities over time. The longer time you allow this bacteria to work on your teeth the sooner you will see decay and cavities forming.

Once a day is better that none but not ideal. You can also rinse your mouth with water thoroughly whenever you have a chance. This reduces the acid effect as a result of bacteria doing its work. Always use toothpaste with fluoride and don’t brush immediately after eating or drinking acidic food or beverage. If you brush once daily, try to make it the last thing before going to bed. If you brush once in the morning, this is considered as if you are not brushing at all.

If you can brush 3 times a day for about 2 minutes every time that is even better but don’t overdo it. Brushing too many times, too much or using a brush that is too hard on your teeth or gums can also cause damage to your gums or week teeth. The most important advice here: be consistent and commit to the process. This is a daily needed activity not an occasional task.

Baking soda: Is it good for your teeth

Baking soda can be used to clean teeth but it can be a risk and it is not recommended to do so. Its abrasive nature can lead to teeth abrasion especially if used with hard toothbrush. Also not everyone will be able to use the right amount to achieve cleanliness without harming gums or teeth.

Baking soda can also be used for whitening teeth as it will ‘sand’ the teeth and scrape into the outer enamel layer. However this can come with a side effect of harming the teeth by sanding too much into its enamel layer. It is better to use products that are specially designed for whitening and to follow the proper instruction to achieve desired results without causing harm. If you have any condition or week teeth consult your dentist about the best method to use for teeth whitening for your condition.

How to brush your teeth daily

Select a toothbrush that properly fits your mouth and not too hard on your teeth and gums. Soft bristles are more flexible and less harmful. Put the brush at 45 degrees to the gums and move it back and forth across the teeth in a motion like half a circle. Always start from the gums to the teeth and not the opposite. Make sure to brush all sides: outer, inner and eating or chewing surface. Use a toothpaste with fluoride. Do not brush or strike too hard: Your teeth is not the enemy. Brush for about two minutes and do not leave out any spots. Make it more like you’re ‘massaging’ than ‘striking’ your teeth and gums.

Oral hygiene routine

You need to have a good level of awareness about any potential oral issues you may have. Always notice if you have a consistent pain or discomfort at part of your mouth. Any bleeding or swollen gums is something you should not ignore. Make it a daily habit to take note of these things and be careful with brushing these areas not to cause more damage. Consult your hygienist or dentist about these observations as soon as you can. Don’t ignore an emerging issue with your teeth or gums as it will usually only get worse and more difficult to treat over longer periods of time.

If you have any special condition like diabetes or being pregnant for example consult your dentist if you need to take extra steps or actions to make sure you can maintain healthy teeth and gums.

How to keep your teeth healthy and strong

In conclusion: Brush at least twice daily, keep an eye on any thing unusual emerging in your mouth, visit your dentist on regular basis, and commit to your daily routine. Take action now and change your daily habits.