How do you brush your teeth?
By lisado
@lisado (1227)
United States
July 18, 2007 1:07pm CST
I was taught, growing up, to brush my teeth by brushing up and down, top gum line to bottom gum line. I was told that brushing back and forth wouldn't get near the gum line or between the teeth as well. When I was in high school, I was told I should brush my teeth using little circles to help remove food caught in between my teeth. The other day, on TV, a dentist was saying you should brush from the gum line down to the bottom of the tooth (for the top teeth) and from the gum up (for the bottom teeth) to the top of the tooth to avoid damaging your gums by pushing them back and allowing food to get under them.
So which is it? How do you brush your teeth? They all make sense, so which is right?
3 people like this
4 responses
@quatelmon (955)
• United States
18 Jul 07
My dentist told me that you should brush in circles to remove food debris, and then you should brush from the top of your gums down. I was told that doing this improves blood circulation in the gums and helps your teeth stay healthy. I'm not sure which is the right way, but my teeth seem pretty healthy to me! LOL
@kareng (54665)
• United States
5 Oct 07
Hey there Lisa! This is confusing!! My parents taught me to brush up and down but my dental hygenist recommended the same method your dentist did --top brush down and away from gums, lower brush up and away from gums. Just like most things in life we all do things differntly!! I say if it is working for you...then keep doing what you are doing!
@Sushicook (690)
• Sweden
18 Jul 07
I usually brush in little circles, or up and down. Seems to work for me! I hadn't heard that you could damage your gums by brushing like that... I'll keep it in mind from now on, it makes a lot of sense.
@eprado (1467)
• Philippines
9 Aug 07
Yup, I was thought the same way too when I was young. Now what I do is:
I used a soft-bristled toothbrush to brush my teeth doing short, back-and-forth brushing motions to clean the outside and inside surfaces of the teeth, as well as the chewing surfaces.
I follow it up with up-and-down motions to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth.
I brush along my gum line gently to avoid damaging my gums.
I make sure also to brush my back molars and tongue to remove bacteria that causes bad breath.
I do this regularly at least three times a day or after every meal. I thinks that's right coz it works for me. Don't like to go to the dentist LOLz. ;-)
