Brushing your teeth properly is essential for maintaining good oral hygiene and preventing dental problems like cavities and gum disease. At NOVORIS, our purpose is to provide best oral hygiene instructions to our patients to guide them appropriately, so that they inculcate good practices and habits. Here are some effective brushing techniques to ensure optimal dental care:

1. Choosing the Right Toothbrush and Toothpaste:

Soft-Bristled Toothbrush: Choose a toothbrush with soft bristles to avoid damaging your gums and enamel. Avoid using hard bristle tooth as they wear down your teeth faster and are very abrasive and damaging in nature thereby inducing sensitivity in long run. Hard bristle brush also traumatizes your gums leading to receding gums. So always use a soft or extra bristle toothbrush. Ask your co-ordinating dentist at NOVORIS to guide you with the type of toothbrush best suited for you.

 

·    Fluoride Toothpaste: Use a fluoride toothpaste to help strengthen enamel and prevent tooth decay. Fluoride in appropriate normal amounts helps to recrystalize the minerals in your enamel into fluorapatite crystals from hydroxyapatite crystals that are harder and more resistant to decay.

  •    It also makes your tooth more resistant to wearing off. At, NOVORIS your co-ordinating dentist will guide you with the exact toothpaste with required       concentration of fluoride necessary for you.

2. Proper Brushing Technique:

  • Positioning the Toothbrush: Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gums on your outer surface and use sweeping strokes to clean.
  • Gentle Brushing: Use short, gentle strokes to clean the outer surfaces, inner surfaces, and chewing surfaces of your teeth.
  • Back-and-Forth Motion: Brush in a back-and-forth motion on the chewing surfaces.
  • Vertical Motion: Brush in a vertical motion to clean the inner surfaces of your front teeth.
  • This is the Modified Bass technique to brush. It is recommended for most people to regularly brush with this method. But there are different other brushing methods as well based on different oral conditions of each patient. We advise you to ask your co-ordinating dentist at NOVORIS to guide for the method most suited for you to brush correctly.

3. Duration and Frequency:

  • Brushing Time: Brush your teeth for at least two minutes each time you brush.
  • Frequency: Brush your teeth at least twice a day, preferably in the morning and before bedtime.

4. Tongue, Gum Care and other tips for oral care:

  • Tongue Cleaning: Gently brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath. You can also use a tongue cleaner to clean your tongue and remove all the debris over it. Presence of a white or yellow coat on your tongue is the primary cause of bad breath and indicates inadequate cleaning. Your tongue harbours maximum bacteria so appropriate cleaning of tongue with a tongue cleaner is mandatory.
  • Gum Massage: After brushing, gently massage your gums with the bristles of your toothbrush to promote circulation and gum health.
  • We at NOVORIS also advise you to use water flosser twice a day once in the morning and once in the night for effective cleaning of your oral cavity. You can use infuse the water flosser water tank with mouthwash or any antiseptic solution for disinfecting and cleaning your gums.

  • Flossing twice a day every day and using mouthwash once in every two or three days is a good method to keep your breath fresh and clean.

      

  • You can also use an electric toothbrush with soft bristles if you want instead of manual as studies have shown they offer better plaque removal without damaging the tooth or gums than manual toothbrush.



5. Brushing Techniques for Specific Areas:

  • Molars: Pay extra attention to your molars and back teeth, as these areas can easily trap food particles and plaque.
  • Hard-to-Reach Areas: Use the tip of your toothbrush or an interdental brush to clean between teeth and along the gum line.
  • For gaps between teeth use water flosser or interdental brush or proxabrush to clean the food debris.

6. Rinse and Clean:

  • Rinse Thoroughly: After brushing, rinse your mouth thoroughly with water or an antimicrobial mouthwash.
  • Clean Your Toothbrush: Rinse your toothbrush thoroughly and store it upright to air dry. Cleaning your toothbrush regularly is important as it can harbour bacteria and when you use it chances are there that you can get infected with it.

 

7. Replace Your Toothbrush Regularly:

  • Timing: Replace your toothbrush or toothbrush head every 3 to 4 months, or sooner if the bristles become frayed.

Additional Tips:

  • Avoid Brushing Too Hard: Brushing vigorously can wear down enamel and irritate gums. Use gentle pressure when brushing.
  • Use Proper Tools: Consider using an electric toothbrush as stated earlier with a timer and pressure sensor for more effective brushing.
  • Visit Your Dentist: Regular dental check-ups and professional cleanings are essential for maintaining oral health.
  • Use any gum paints or gels or tubes if advised by your dentist for better gum health. Ask your dentist first before using any local ointment or medication on your gums.

By following these brushing techniques and tips and maintaining a consistent oral hygiene routine, you can effectively remove plaque, prevent dental problems, and keep your smile healthy and bright. We at NOVORIS are always there to serve you in the best possible way.