One key to activating the value of toothpastes is creating foam when properly brushing. In today’s post, let’s review the unique role of foam.
Get that foam foaming
Working up a good foam is accomplished by pre-wetting the toothbrush, then attacking at a 45 rather than 90 degree angle. The foaming aids in dislodging food debris from nooks and crannies in the mouth. Go ahead and swish it around at the completion of brushing to pick up any stragglers. The abrasives in toothpaste are designed to polish the teeth without damaging the enamel.
Hard or soft toothbrush?
Because of the abrasives, soft toothbrushes are perfect for proper brushing. Harder bristles can put the enamel and gum line at risk. When the gum line recedes from aggressive brushing (or any other cause) a patient may experience tooth pain, increased build-up and decay, tooth structure weakening, and in extreme cases, tooth loss.
Fluoride is your enamel’s best friend
As you eat and drink throughout the day, the sugars and acids wash over your teeth. This makes the enamel softer. You want to help your enamel harden back up every day to protect your teeth from decay. That’s where the miracle mineral, fluoride comes in.
The fluoride in the toothpaste promotes remineralization when the paste has been rubbed around on all surfaces of all teeth in the entire mouth. This takes time so make certain you brush for at least 2-3 minutes.
In addition, remember that flossing is critical and rounds out the 5 minutes each day to give you healthy, pain-free chewing for years and years to come.
To recap:
- Wet a soft bristle toothbrush
- Use fluoridated toothpaste
- Brush at 45 degree angle
- Brush gently for 2-3 minutes
- Cover every surface of every tooth
- Swish around in mouth before spitting out
- Floss gently around each tooth and don’t miss the back surface of the rear molars
- Rinse out debris
A fluoride rinse gives extra protection
After brushing and flossing, consider swishing with a fluoride rinse. Note that we’re not talking about an alcohol-based mouthwash. A fluoride rinse is not designed primarily to freshen breath (though keeping your teeth healthy will help your breath), it’s designed to strengthen and protect your teeth and gums. Remember, don’t rinse with water after swishing and spitting. You want the rinse to be the last substance on your teeth before you go to bed.
Visit Beveridge Dental in San Jose
This article is brought to you by Beveridge Dental, an outstanding dental practice in San Jose. We are committed to dental education and confident smiles for all.
Doctor Stephen Beveridge has been serving San Jose area families since 1967. We are located at 3535 Ross Avenue Ste 300 in San Jose. Contact us at 408-267-2303.
Ask us about our dental payment options, accepted insurance companies, and the general and cosmetic care we offer. And brush well until we see you, it will be worth every foamy second!
Contact Beveridge Dental:
408-267-2303
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
Beveridge Dental
3535 Ross Ave Ste 300
San Jose, CA 95124
