Get the best results from your electric toothbrush
An electric toothbrush is an incredibly useful dental tool that will help your teeth to stay healthy and clean. However, these innovative brushes don’t simply do the work for you. When you upgrade to an electric brush, you’ll still need to use a proper brushing technique and take considerations to maximize your oral health. By following a few simple tips, you’ll get the best possible results from your electric toothbrush.
Take Time to Practice
An electric toothbrush is a very different experience than using a traditional brush. For some people, the vibrations leave them feeling disoriented. It may take some time to get used to your new brush, so take as many practice runs as needed before you switch over to using this brush full-time. You should also practice your new brushing technique, as you’ll no longer need to vigorously brush in the back-and-forth motion of traditional brushing.
Be Careful with the Toothpaste
There are a few important toothpaste considerations when using an electric toothbrush. First, be sure to only use a pea-sized amount of paste, as too much toothpaste can damage your teeth. Secondly, don’t turn the toothbrush on until you place it in your mouth. Otherwise, the moving bristles are liable to shoot toothpaste across your bathroom.
Tackle Brushing in Zones
To ensure that all of your teeth are brushed adequately, it may be helpful to divide your mouth into four zones: left, right, bottom, and top. By focusing on brushing one quadrant of your mouth at a time, you’ll ensure that all surfaces of the teeth receive equal attention. Begin wherever it feels the most natural, but take care to brush each surface in the zone, including your tongue, gums, and the roof of your mouth.
Maintain the Proper Brush Angle
Just because you’re using an electric toothbrush with spinning bristles doesn’t mean the angle isn’t important. Be sure to hold your brush at a 45-degree angle. This will help the bristles to clean the gum line, which often contains stubborn plaque and food debris. Then, use a rolling motion to move from the outside of the teeth to the inner surfaces. In addition to the gum line, pay close attention to the chewing surfaces of the teeth to dislodge any stubborn food or bacteria.
Set the Timer
You’ll want to spend two minutes brushing your teeth during each session, and your electric toothbrush will make it easy to keep track of the time. Most brushes include built-in timers, allowing you to thoroughly brush without setting a stopwatch or looking at the clock. Instead, you can focus on your technique and brushing each quadrant of your mouth.