Brushing your teeth is as basic as life gets. You should be doing it twice a day; one in the morning and once at night. Simple, right? Unfortunately, you’d be wrong here. An overwhelming amount of people are not brushing right.

Often, brushing teeth is construed as a matter of oral hygiene. Though it forms an important component of, that is not all there is to brushing.

Of course, lack thereof can cause bad breath and pearly white becoming anything but, there is also the bigger danger of dental issues that then require treatment from the Best Dentist in Karachi.

Brushing also has a role to play in your overall health as well. So, knowing how to properly brush your teeth is vital.

But first: The consequences of not brushing your teeth

To stop yourself from brushing your teeth only half heartedly, or not doing a good job despite better intentions, knowing the consequences of not brushing, or improper brushing is important.

Basically, there are present bacteria in our oral cavity that feed off of the food particle remains, especially the sugary stuff.  This then causes the deposition of a biofilm. Brushing aids in removing this film, so it doesn’t pile up to cause havoc.

However, if you don’t brush your teeth properly, or don’t bother at all, this film can increase in volume. It can then lead to bad breath, gum issues, including gingivitis, extreme issues like periodontal disease, which can cause your teeth to fall out as well.

But that is not all there is to the damage done by not brushing your teeth; these bacteria can also get into your bloodstream, and then cause issues around other organs as well, including your heart.

So, don’t take the task of brushing your teeth lightly. It so may also happen that people are unknowingly not brushing their teeth correctly, and thus may not realize the damage being done around their body.

What’s the correct protocol to brush your teeth?

First, find the correct equipment

As much as the advertisement have you believing you need all the dental hygiene paraphernalia, you really don’t. Consumers generally don’t have enough knowledge of which products are useful, which are useless, and which are harmful, which then jeopardizes the health of their oral cavity.

So, first, find yourself the correct toothbrush. Don’t get very hard bristles, those will abrade your gums a lot. Try to go for medium to soft ones. Also, make sure that the head is not too big, as it will then be difficult to maneuver it around your mouth. Ideally, get ones with compact head and flexible body so they are easy to move around.

If you are wanting to get an electric toothbrush, that is also fine. However, a rotating head will be a better choice for this venture.

Moreover, toothpaste matters too. Opt for one with good fluoride content, as this mineral helps in keeping your teeth healthy.

Then, know the target

The basic issue arises perhaps due to the fact that most people are not aware of the target of brushing teeth. You may think that it’s the teeth, however, that’s not entirely true.

Since the danger of the biofilm rests on the gum, the target of your brush technically should be the gums, and unfortunately, many of us fail to do this properly.

So, first, find yourself the correct toothbrush. Don’t get very hard bristles, those will abrade your gums a lot. Try to go for medium to soft ones. Also, make sure that the head is not too big, as it will then be difficult to maneuver it around your mouth. Ideally, get ones with compact head and flexible body so they are easy to move around.

Once you have the gums brushed, you automatically have also brushed against the surface of your teeth as well.

Technique is important

Take a small amount of toothpaste to your brush. Then, hold it at an approximately 45-degree angle to your gums. Use gentle and circular motion. Make sure that you are covering all the surfaces.

For your wisdom teeth and molars, catching the surface is also important. Otherwise, it can result in cavities. If you have specific conditions, it is best to consult your Dentist for which technique is suitable for you.

So, first, find yourself the correct toothbrush. Don’t get very hard bristles, those will abrade your gums a lot. Try to go for medium to soft ones. Also, make sure that the head is not too big, as it will then be difficult to maneuver it around your mouth. Ideally, get ones with compact head and flexible body so they are easy to move around.

The basic issue arises perhaps due to the fact that most people are not aware of the target of brushing teeth. You may think that it’s the teeth, however, that’s not entirely true.