The British Dental Journal has recently published a review of the different techniques for teeth brushing taught by dentists and found that there is little agreement between dental associations and toothbrush and toothpaste companies on which method is best. In fact, they found minimal high quality evidence to categorically show that any one technique is better than the other.
The most commonly taught technique is called the modified Bass technique which involves circular movements around the gum line with your toothbrush angled at 45 degrees to your gums. However, various other techniques were found to be taught by dental professionals which is surprising as one would have thought that the first thing that is taught to dentists and hygienists at dental school would be how to brush your teeth!
It is all very well having a unified approach to teeth brushing but as a dentist I see that people have various dexterity skills and there is little point in showing a patient a technique that they do not like and may not work for them. So, in reality, everybody should use the technique that works best for them and it should be the dental professionals’ job to work with their technique and ensure that their teeth are still being thoroughly cleaned.
Good tooth brushing reduces the chance of you suffering from tooth decay, gum disease, staining/discolouration of your teeth and bad breath. One of the most important areas to clean well is the junction where the gum meets your tooth. If plaque gathers in this area it can cause a condition called gingivitis or periodontitis (gum disease). This is why it is recommended by some to angle the toothbrush onto your gum line at 45 degrees so that the bristles of your toothbrush can clean under the gum line.
It is also important to carefully clean in between your teeth, quite often your toothbrush will not be able to effectively remove plaque in this area and this can lead to decay. In fact much of the decay that dentists see occurs in areas such as these, where your teeth touch, which is why it is recommended that as well as brushing your teeth carefully you should also use either dental floss or inter-dental brushes to help with the removal of plaque.
One other widely accepted fact is that you should be brushing your teeth twice a day (morning and night). It is important to realise that at night when you sleep you produce less saliva so that if you have not brushed your teeth before bed then the plaque left overnight can cause damage over time. It is also important not to rinse your mouth with water after you have brushed your teeth as this washes away the protective fluoride that is in toothpaste.
It may seem to some people that dentists exist to cause you pain, but in reality we want to help our patients prevent oral diseases and reduce the chance of needing treatment. Quite often some patients can be a bit defensive when questioned about their tooth brushing routine because they feel that it is something that they should have learned at a young age but don’t be shy to ask for help and advice, after all that is what your dentist is there for. Your dentist is not just there to place fillings or treat dental disease after it has developed they also play a preventative role and as we all know, prevention is better than a cure.
Written by Dr Daniel Winston BDS MSc, principal dentist at Mossley Dental Care