What are some things dentists might not tell you about brushing techniques that could
make a big difference in your dental health?

If you rinse with water after brushing, you wash away the very chemical that prevents
decay. If you brush right after drinking coffee, you physically scrub away your own
enamel.

Many ingrained techniques learned in childhood or seen in toothpaste commercials are
actually counterproductive to dental health. Here are the most common ways people
unknowingly sabotage their brushing routine:

Rinsing clears the active ingredients:
A lifetime of habit dictates brushing, spitting, and immediately rinsing the mouth with
water. But doing so strips the teeth of concentrated fluoride. Fluoride requires time to sit
on the enamel to remineralize it and protect against decay. When the excess paste is
simply spit out without rinsing, the fluoride remains in contact with the teeth,
maximizing its preventative effects.

Timing matters after acidic meals:
Consuming coffee, citrus, or tomato-based sauces temporarily softens tooth enamel.
Taking an abrasive brush to the teeth right away can shear off microscopic layers of this
weakened structure. Dental professionals generally recommend waiting at least 30
minutes, allowing saliva to neutralize the acid and re-harden the enamel before
brushing.

Excessive force causes physical damage:
Many people hold their toothbrush with a tight fist grip and apply heavy force. Plaque is
a soft, sticky biofilm, not a hard calculus, so heavy scrubbing is unnecessary to remove
it. Excessive pressure is a leading cause of gum recession and toothbrush abrasion,
where physical notches are worn into the root surfaces of the teeth. Holding the
toothbrush lightly with just two or three fingers naturally limits the applied pressure.

The angle is more important than the motion:
A standard horizontal back-and-forth sawing motion misses a critical area. The standard
recommended method in dentistry, known as the Modified Bass Technique, involves
holding the brush at a 45-degree angle toward the gum line. The bristles are meant to
slip slightly under the edge of the gums into the sulcusÿthe shallow pocket where
bacteria hide and cause gingivitis. The brush is vibrated in tiny circles, followed by a
sweeping motion away from the gums.

Commercials exaggerate toothpaste quantity:
Toothpaste advertisements frequently depict a thick ribbon of paste covering the entire
length of the brush head. This is a marketing visual rather than a medical recommendation. For an adult, a pea-sized amount of toothpaste is sufficient. Excess
toothpaste creates an overabundance of foam, which can prompt a person to spit and
finish brushing before reaching the recommended two-minute mark.

Full story: https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-things-dentists-might-not-tell-you-about- brushing-techniques-that-could-make-a-big-difference-in-your-dental-health

--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v10.0gr17
* Origin: The Hobby Line! BBS (999:1/1)