Are you brushing your teeth correctly?

Do you finish brushing in less than a minute? You are probably doing it all wrong.

Every morning when you wake up sheepishly and reach for your toothbrush and paste and start the mundane task of brushing, do you ever give it a thought whether you are doing it right? Or if you are spending enough time with your pearly whites to keep them clean? Probably not. None of us give a thought to the amount of time we spend to brush our teeth. While the act can get over in just 30 seconds, but according to Dr Arjun Bedi Chief Dental Consultant from Dent ‘O’ Care, Delhi, ‘Proper brushing doesn’t mean spending a good chunk of your time with your brush and paste in front of your bathroom mirror. In fact, it takes only two minutes of your time in the morning to clean your teeth and kick-start your day with bacteria free mouth.’ Here are five myths on dental care busted.

However, Dr Bedi stresses that more than the time, it’s the technique which is important to ensure good oral hygiene. Here are few rules you should follow while brushing your teeth.

·         Brush using short strokes, moving back and forth against the teeth and gums, around the surface of every tooth.

·         Never apply too much pressure while brushing; using too much pressure can cause abrasion of the enamel, which can cause tooth sensitivity.

·         Always follow-up with flossing. Remember, your brushing is not over yet if you don’t floss. It is the only way you can get rid of the plaque build-up in-between your teeth. Else, this can lead to tartar formation and other oral infections in future, not to mention bad breath. Here are top 10 rules of flossing that you should know.

·         While brushing, imagine splitting your mouth into four quadrants and then spend 30 seconds on each quadrant, cleaning the teeth inside out. Here are five causes of bleeding gums that you need to know.

·         Rinse your mouth thoroughly, either with water or a non-alcoholic mouthwash after you finish brushing and flossing.

·         Ideally, brush your teeth twice daily, which would mean spending around five minutes of your entire time in 24 hours to get shiny, healthy teeth.