How To Brush Your Teeth The Right Way

When a patient presents with sensitivity, gum recession, or cavities, I always do the following check-up on their brushing technique. Because the #1 brushing mistake I see is BRUSHING TOO HARD!⁣
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✏️ Check your grip - you want to aim for a grip similar to how you grip a pencil, not a handlebar of a bicycle.⁣
👍 Rub your thumb along the bristles. They should feel soft to the touch.⁣
🗓 Replace toothbrush heads often. I know every 4-6 weeks is often, but it's not a ploy to get you to buy more. You might think that the more you use something, the more it wears down and softens with use. It's the opposite with toothbrushes. With use, the bristles become rougher and sharper and thus more likely to cause sensitivity and gum recession by scraping tooth structure that you don't want to lose. I like subscription services for this reason - when a new head comes in the mail, it's time to change. Why not let someone else do the reminding for you? Check my highlights for my favorite toothbrush subscriptions.⁣
🛁 Don't scrub. You're not scrubbing your bathtub - think "tooth and gum massage." Aim for a very gentle, vibratory motion that's like a very tiny circle.⁣
🧹 Avoid a sweeping or saw-like back and forth motion.⁣
⏰ Don't brush in a rush. If you're someone who brushes your teeth right before you have to leave the house, can you change your routine so that you brush first thing in the AM when you go to the bathroom?⁣
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Be aware: If you've been overbrushing your whole life, then the correct technique might feel strange or like it's not getting your teeth clean enough.⁣
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How we do this one small thing EVERY DAY for years adds up.⁣
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🦷 For more tips on how to heal your dental symptoms and end the "drill, fill and bill" cycle at the dentist, check out my downloadable guide on preventing and reversing cavities naturally: askthedentist.com/reversing-cavities-naturally-…