Brushing is an essential part of the tooth-cleaning process. When you visit Parkway Dental for your routine dental checkup, our dentist and hygienists will review your oral hygiene routine and give you instructions and recommendations on the best brushing techniques and how to improve your oral health.  Call us at 919-380-9622 to learn more about oral hygiene and make your appointment with Dr. Stephen Coker in Cary, North Carolina.

Brushing removes plaque from:

• The chewing surfaces
• The cheek and tongue sides of teeth
• At the gum line, where periodontal disease often begins

Most people tend to brush too hard so we strongly advise the use of a soft or electric toothbrush. It is also a good idea to change your toothbrush about every three months.

For the back teeth, hold the brush at a 45-degree angle in relation to the gum line (Step 1). Use short, circular strokes as you move the brush at the junction of the gums and teeth. Brush the chewing surfaces of these teeth by holding the brush parallel to the surface of the teeth and brushing back and forth.

For the tongue side of the front teeth, hold the brush so that the bristles at the top of the brush contact the gums at a 45-degree angle (Step 2). Again, use short, circular stokes to clean the teeth. For the cheek side, hold the brush from the side at a 45-degree angle and use short, circular strokes (Step 3).

You can also brush the surface of your tongue to remove the bacteria and debris that reside on the surface.

For more information about how to brush and to get a few tips on how to improve your brushing technique, contact our office today.