Toothbrushing for total health
Taking good care of your teeth and gums will help prevent tooth
loss and keep the rest of your body healthy. Poor oral health has
been linked to diabetes, heart disease and respiratory diseases.
Getting toothbrushing right is the first step. To clean the surfaces
and hard-to-reach areas of your teeth properly, you must use the
right toothbrush:
- Choose a soft or extra-soft toothbrush.
- Choose a brush with a smaller head (even a children’s
toothbrush) if you have a small mouth.
- Power toothbrushes, if you can afford one, are better at
removing dental plaque than a manual toothbrush.
Once you’ve got your toothbrush in hand, wet it and then place
a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste on the bristles. Divide
your mouth into 4 sections: top, bottom, left and right. Position the
bristles of your toothbrush so that they touch both your gums and teeth, and brush all surfaces of
your teeth: cheek side, tongue
side, and biting surfaces. Brush
for two minutes, spending 30
seconds in each section of your
mouth. Don’t forget to brush
your tongue, using a sweeping
motion from the back to the
tip of the tongue to remove
harmful bacteria.
Brushing your teeth twice a day
reduces your risk of cavities, gum disease and bad breath, and it
prevents bacteria in your mouth from spreading to other parts of
your body. It’s a quick and easy way to protect your oral and
overall health.
For more information on oral health, visit dentalhygienecanada.ca