Good oral hygiene is beneficial to your oral health as well as your overall health. Good oral hygiene includes teeth cleaning, tongue cleaning and gum care. Among these important components, proper brushing is very important. Tooth decay, bad breath, plaque and gum diseases can be prevented just by brushing. The best way to keep your teeth and gums healthy is to brush at least twice a day for at least two minutes every time. The leading San Diego general dentistry practitioner, Dr. Reza Kaisiri, DDS, is promoting proper brushing as the best prevention measure against possible teeth and gum problems that can escalate, causing severe problems such as arterial clogging and premature childbirth.

As simple as it may seem, there is a proper way of brushing. Most people are unaware that incorrect brushing can actually damage both the teeth and gums. Improper brushing causes tooth abrasion, where enamel is scrapped off the tooth. It also causes gum trauma that appear as red areas or deep lesions. For proper cleaning, it is best to buy a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush properly following the steps below:

1. Place bristles along the gum line at a 45 degree angle. Gently brush using a circular motion along the outer and inner tooth surfaces.

2. Brush each tooth individually. Tilt the brush vertically behind the front teeth. Using the front half of the brush, use the same circular motion.

3. Place the brush against the biting surface of the teeth and use a gentle back-and-forth motion. Brush the tongue to remove odor-producing bacteria.

Practice the proper brushing and you’ll surely see and feel clean teeth. Poor teeth brushing leads to unwanted effects like tartar buildup. Tartar is composed of bacteria, plaque and food particles. The accumulation of tartar eventually leads to tooth decay. Another undesirable effect of improper brushing is staining, making your teeth yellowish in color. Bad breath is also an unwanted outcome resulting from bacteria and food debris remaining on the teeth, gums and other areas of the mouth. These are only a few of the bad effects of poor brushing.

Aside from brushing, you also need to go for regular dental checkups to determine if there are any underlying problems that brushing alone cannot tackle. Visit us at Mira Mesa Boulevard or at our clinic along Garnet Avenue. A quick stop at our dental clinic helps prevent oral health problems.