THE BEST TOOTH BRUSHING TECHNIQUE.

 

THE BEST TOOTH BRUSHING TECHNIQUE.

Tooth Brushing is an inevitable activity in our daily routine. To the whole world, tooth brushing may seem like an extremely minute activity but it holds utmost importance in maintaining optimum oral health.

Tooth brushing is the most neglected and taken-for-granted activity in the world. Around 45% of people do not brush twice daily and around 2% of people around the world do not brush regularly.

As a Practicing Dentist, I get many questions regarding the best toothpaste or which toothpaste is the best, or should we switch to herbal toothpaste?? To all these queries my simple reply is- “Please concentrate on the Tooth Brushing Technique”.

The most widely used organ in the human body is our teeth. On average, every 2 hours we are eating or chewing some food, hence teeth and oral cavity are the most common victim of bacterial invasion.

Washing our mouth after every meal can only help get rid of major food remnants but the micro food remnants are always present in the oral cavity, which are acted upon by bacteria to produce dental diseases like dental caries, gingivitis, periodontitis, etc.

                                          

These micro food remnants are lodged at the gums region and the region between 2 teeth which is also known as the interdental region. Hence the correct technique of tooth brushing will ensure the dislocation of these micro food remnants and help in maintaining optimum oral health.

The most widely accepted technique of tooth brushing is known as “The Modified Bass Technique”.

The benefit of the Modified Bass Tooth Brushing Technique is that it removes plaque from in and around the gums region, the interdental region, and also from the surface of the teeth. This helps in the overall cleaning of teeth along with their adjacent structures.

Technique:

• ·       Modified Bass Technique recommends using a soft toothbrush to ensure proper teeth cleaning.
• ·       Toothbrush is held at 45degree to the gums, half of the bristles covering the gums.

                      

• ·       Bristles are moved in small circular motions followed by a sweeping motion from the neck of the tooth to the edge of the tooth.
• ·       Strokes are repeated 20 times with the toothbrush and 3 teeth are cleaned at a time.
• ·       Lingually (tooth surfaces facing the tongue), the toothbrush is placed vertically pressing the heel of the brush at the gums region at a 45degree angle, and bristles are activated using the same method as above.
• ·       Occlusal (tooth surfaces of the back tooth that helps in chewing) surfaces are cleaned by pressing bristles firmly against the grooves and activating the bristles as mentioned above.

There are many other Tooth Brushing Techniques discussed in the dental literature but among all the Modified Bass Technique serves the best tooth cleaning purpose, also ensures a higher rate of effectiveness and efficiency.

A healthy oral cavity is a roadmap to a healthy body because stronger teeth ensure effective chewing of food which further helps in better digestion of food, hence lesser diseases, more strength, and an active lifestyle.