STEP 1: Tooth Brushing
It is important to brush your teeth twice for 2 mins every day with a toothpaste approved by the Canadian Dental Association (CDA), especially before going to sleep. There are different sizes of brushes and different levels of softness of bristles for your choosing. Here are some tips of how to brush effectively:
- Try to angle the brush at 45 degrees to the gums (As seen above) and gently brush in a circular motion to clean along the gum line on all teeth
- If your dentist has told you "you brush too hard," try gripping the handle of the brush with your thumb and index finger only instead of your whole hand
- Brush the cheek-side, tongue-side and chewing surfaces of all teeth
- Brush the surface of your tongue (with your brush or tongue cleaner)
Electric toothbrushes - come in various forms and can remove plaque easily without much manual dexterity. Place the bristles on your gum line and allow the electric brush to remove plaque on all surfaces. These are especially recommended for individuals who have a hard time brushing.