Brushing our teeth is a daily act that we carry out automatically. However, it is important to think if we are really doing it the right way.

Every day we look at ourselves in the mirror, put the paste on the toothbrush and begin to rub it until it foams, spit out, rinse and continue with our daily routine. This action is so mechanized that we rarely stop to think about what we are really doing, that is what causes many of us not to brush our teeth correctly. In view of this, Bienestar of the newspaper El Comercio, spoke with Claudia Paredes, a dentist from Clinica Ricardo Palma, who will teach us the correct way to brush our teeth.

“When we have a bad brushing, cavities begin to appear. If these do not heal, it will progress depending on where it is, whether it is superficial or more internal, causing an infection in the pulp of the tooth and a lot of pain,” she explains.

Steps to brush your teeth correctly

Paredes recommends first brushing as we do conventionally and then use the Bass technique, which is considered one of the most efficient for removing and eliminating plaque bacteria. This is the step by step of how to apply it.

1. Place the brush at a 45° angle and horizontally with respect to your teeth, covering two or three pieces. In this way, the bristles of the brush will reach the area where a lot of dental plaque usually accumulates.
2. Make smooth movements horizontally.
3. Once you have made this movement all over the outside of the teeth, repeat the same procedure on the inside.
4. Remember that during these movements we must not exert too much pressure so as not to damage the soft tissues.

“Let’s remember that first is the brushing and then is the sweep to remove the remains of the brushing. Particularly, the sweep is carried out in the front area, in the back part only the tip of the brush has to enter diagonally”, she adds.

Important considerations to have a healthy mouth

In addition to the technique used, there are other points that we must take into account to have healthy and clean teeth.

• The brush must have soft bristles: These must be at the same level. Brushes with hard bristles can hurt the gums.
• Brushing time: This should last two minutes in total, since it plays a very important role in cleaning the mouth.
• Interdental hygiene: No brush can remove dirt from between the teeth. Dental floss should be used at least once a day before bed.
• Let’s not forget to clean the tongue: Bacteria also accumulate in this muscle that must be removed from the mouth to avoid infections.
• Go to the dentist at least once a year.

Dr. Claudia Paredes
Dentist at Clinica Ricardo Palma

Source: elcomercio.pe