Brushing teeth: mistakes not to commit

Brushing your teeth: a daily gesture for everyone and for all your life. Yet without knowing the right gestures, brushing mistakes are common. Explanations and reminders of Dr. Christophe Lequart, dentist.

The choice of the toothbrush

A brush that is too small or too big prevents you from brushing your teeth properly. Choose a brush that fits your mouth.

Avoid hard or medium toothbrushes because too stiff bristles do not allow effective cleaning between teeth. Prefer soft brushes and if you have loose teeth problems or a special sensitivity to hot or cold, prefer ultra-soft toothbrushes.

Electric toothbrushes can improve the quality of brushing (rotary action of the head is adequate) and eliminate more plaque. In addition, despite its heavier weight, the electric brush allows a better grip in the elderly and for all people who have difficulty handling an object in their hand.

Toothpaste and dental floss

The choice of toothpaste is important. Use a toothpaste containing fluorine to protect the enamel from acid attacks. Remember that fluoride has significantly reduced the number of caries and improve oral health.

From the age of 6, children can use an adult toothpaste. Avoid at all costs homemade toothpastes made from clay. They often have an abrasive effect given the particle size (grain size) of the clay used.

To complete the brushing, the use of floss or interdental brushes is essential, including in children.

The brushing technique

The most common mistakes are:

To brush your teeth in the wrong direction, that is to say horizontally and not in a roll motion (a slight rotational movement), going from pink to white.
Rub too hard and bleed the gums by too much brushing. The gesture must be moderate at the risk of eliminating part of the gum and email.
Opening the mouth too wide: this prevents proper brushing from the gum to the tooth due to contraction of the muscles around the lips. The mouth must be closed to the maximum.
For brushing the incisors, the toothbrush should be held vertically to clean between the teeth.
To brush your teeth too quickly. Experts agree on this point: the duration of brushing should be 2 minutes (for children and adults). Electric toothbrushes are increasingly equipped with a "timer", which ensures the optimal duration of brushing.
To brush your teeth more than 2 times a day. Excessive brushing can cause gum problems and weaken the e-mail.
Forget interdental spaces and gums. Remember to floss, even brushes adapted to the size of interdental spaces, especially if you are concerned by periodontal disease.
Brush your teeth, always starting at the same place. The risk ? That the rest of the mouth is less well cleaned, especially at the end of brushing. Ideally, change the order of your brushing by starting each day with a different corner.

False beliefs and bad habits

Keep your toothbrush too long. A manual toothbrush should be renewed every 3 months. Indeed, the bristles of the brush must remain flexible and straight. The removable head of an electric toothbrush should be replaced every 3 months. Be aware that new power brushes have a wear indicator (for example, referring to hair color in the head).
Store your brush in a closed space or place it horizontally on a shelf. It is best to dry it vertically and in the open air.

Forget about cleaning your brush after use.

Dry your toothbrush with a towel that will inevitably carry bacteria into the brush.
Arrange the toothbrushes of the whole family in the same pot.
Think that the teeth of toddlers do not brush. As soon as a tooth appears in your child's mouth, brushing should begin to avoid cavities. From the age of 6 months to one year, brush your teeth with a soaked pad of water once a day, at bedtime. From the age of one, you can continue brushing your teeth at night with a soft toothbrush without toothpaste. From the age of 2, we will consider 2 daily brushing (morning and evening) for 2 minutes with a toothpaste for children containing fluorine.
Brush your tongue too often and with your toothbrush. The tongue can be brushed from time to time, especially if you have a problem of halitosis (bad breath) but not every day and especially not with the bristles of your toothbrush. If you want to do it, use a suitable language cleaner.
Some additional tips
If you consume energy drinks or coffee, wait half an hour before
Adult dental health

Brushing teeth: mistakes not to commit

Brushing teeth: mistakes not to commit

Brushing your teeth: a daily gesture for everyone and for all your life. Yet without knowing the right gestures, brushing mistakes are common. Explanations and reminders of Dr. Christophe Lequart, dentist.

The choice of the toothbrush

A brush that is too small or too big prevents you from brushing your teeth properly. Choose a brush that fits your mouth.

Avoid hard or medium toothbrushes because too stiff bristles do not allow effective cleaning between teeth. Prefer soft brushes and if you have loose teeth problems or a special sensitivity to hot or cold, prefer ultra-soft toothbrushes.

Electric toothbrushes can improve the quality of brushing (rotary action of the head is adequate) and eliminate more plaque. In addition, despite its heavier weight, the electric brush allows a better grip in the elderly and for all people who have difficulty handling an object in their hand.

Toothpaste and dental floss

The choice of toothpaste is important. Use a toothpaste containing fluorine to protect the enamel from acid attacks. Remember that fluoride has significantly reduced the number of caries and improve oral health.

From the age of 6, children can use an adult toothpaste. Avoid at all costs homemade toothpastes made from clay. They often have an abrasive effect given the particle size (grain size) of the clay used.

To complete the brushing, the use of floss or interdental brushes is essential, including in children.

The brushing technique

The most common mistakes are:

To brush your teeth in the wrong direction, that is to say horizontally and not in a roll motion (a slight rotational movement), going from pink to white.
Rub too hard and bleed the gums by too much brushing. The gesture must be moderate at the risk of eliminating part of the gum and email.
Opening the mouth too wide: this prevents proper brushing from the gum to the tooth due to contraction of the muscles around the lips. The mouth must be closed to the maximum.
For brushing the incisors, the toothbrush should be held vertically to clean between the teeth.
To brush your teeth too quickly. Experts agree on this point: the duration of brushing should be 2 minutes (for children and adults). Electric toothbrushes are increasingly equipped with a "timer", which ensures the optimal duration of brushing.
To brush your teeth more than 2 times a day. Excessive brushing can cause gum problems and weaken the e-mail.
Forget interdental spaces and gums. Remember to floss, even brushes adapted to the size of interdental spaces, especially if you are concerned by periodontal disease.
Brush your teeth, always starting at the same place. The risk ? That the rest of the mouth is less well cleaned, especially at the end of brushing. Ideally, change the order of your brushing by starting each day with a different corner.

False beliefs and bad habits

Keep your toothbrush too long. A manual toothbrush should be renewed every 3 months. Indeed, the bristles of the brush must remain flexible and straight. The removable head of an electric toothbrush should be replaced every 3 months. Be aware that new power brushes have a wear indicator (for example, referring to hair color in the head).
Store your brush in a closed space or place it horizontally on a shelf. It is best to dry it vertically and in the open air.

Forget about cleaning your brush after use.

Dry your toothbrush with a towel that will inevitably carry bacteria into the brush.
Arrange the toothbrushes of the whole family in the same pot.
Think that the teeth of toddlers do not brush. As soon as a tooth appears in your child's mouth, brushing should begin to avoid cavities. From the age of 6 months to one year, brush your teeth with a soaked pad of water once a day, at bedtime. From the age of one, you can continue brushing your teeth at night with a soft toothbrush without toothpaste. From the age of 2, we will consider 2 daily brushing (morning and evening) for 2 minutes with a toothpaste for children containing fluorine.
Brush your tongue too often and with your toothbrush. The tongue can be brushed from time to time, especially if you have a problem of halitosis (bad breath) but not every day and especially not with the bristles of your toothbrush. If you want to do it, use a suitable language cleaner.
Some additional tips
If you consume energy drinks or coffee, wait half an hour before