It is crucial to brush your teeth a minimum of 2 times a day. However, if you have braces you should be brushing after every meal. This is critical because braces tend to trap food particles and bacteria that can cause cavities if you don’t clean your teeth each time you eat.
You should brush your teeth between 3-4 minutes. Patients generally think they are brushing long enough, when, in fact, most people spend less than one minute brushing. It is generally better to brush 3 to 4 minutes twice a day instead of brushing quickly five or more times throughout the day. Here are the five steps to brushing your teeth properly.
Step 1: Place the toothbrush beside your teeth at a 45-degree angle.
Step 2: Gently brush teeth only a small group of teeth at a time (in a circular or elliptical motion) until the entire mouth is covered.
Step 3: Brush the outside of the teeth, inside of the teeth, the chewing surfaces, and in between each tooth.
Step 4: Gently brush the tongue to remove bacteria and freshen breath.
Step 5: Repeat steps 1 through 4 at least twice daily, especially after meals and snacks.
Some great ways to time your daily brushings is with a cooking timer, a little hourglass (you can get from your dentist), or singing some fun songs. Listed below are some songs you can sing about teeth while brushing.
To the tune of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”
Brush, brush, brush your teeth
Gently round your gums.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Brushing can be fun!!
Brush, brush, brush your teeth
Brush them every day.
The front, the sides, the back, the top
To keep decay (or the bugs or germs) away!
Floss, floss, floss your teeth
Floss without delay.
You need to do this every day
To keep decay (or the bugs or germs) away!
To the tune of “Jingle Bells”
I brush my teeth, I brush my teeth, morning noon and night.
I brush them, floss them, rinse them clean; I keep them nice and white.
I brush them once, I brush them twice; I brush them till they shine.
I always brush them round and round; those precious teeth of mine.
I eat good foods, I eat good foods, I give my teeth a treat.
I like to eat healthy foods like veggies, fruit, and meat.
If I eat sweets, if I eat sweets, I brush them right away
To keep my teeth shiny bright, and free from tooth decay.
To the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It”
If you’re happy and you know it give a smile
If you’re happy and you know it give a smile
If you’re happy and you know it then your face is going to show it
If you’re happy and you know it give a smile.
When my teeth are clean I know it ‘cause I SMILE
When my teeth are clean I know it ‘cause I SMILE
When my teeth are clean I know it and I’m not afraid to show it
When my teeth are clean I know it ‘cause I SMILE
To the tune of “Old MacDonald had a Farm”
All my friends have pretty smiles
Ee – i – ee – i – o.
They brush their teeth to keep them bright,
Ee – i – ee – i – o.
With a wiggle-jiggle here,
And a wiggle-jiggle there,
Here a wiggle, there a jiggle,
Everywhere a wiggle-jiggle
Oh what fun to brush our teeth,
Ee – i – ee – i - o.
Sing these songs a few times while brushing your teeth and you smile will stay fresh, clean and healthy.
