Proper brushing is very vital to maintain oral hygiene. Most people get tooth problems due to inappropriate brushing of teeth. Bad breath, dental caries and other such problems can be corrected by proper brushing techniques. Brush the teeth thoroughly twice a day. Use a soft bristled brush. Place the bristles at a 45-degree angle to the teeth and slide the tips of the brush under the gums. Jiggle the bristles very gently so that any plaque growing under the gum will be removed. Be sure to brush the outside, the tongue side and the chewing surfaces of the teeth. For the front teeth, brush the inside surfaces of the upper and lower jaws by slanting the brush vertically and making several up and down strokes with the front part of the brush over the teeth and gum tissues. To reach the inside surfaces of front teeth, tilt brush vertically and use gentle, up-and-down strokes with the head of the brush.

Replace the brush in time

The toothbrush can clean only one or two teeth at a time. Change its position to clean each tooth. A thorough brushing should take at least 3 minutes. Brushing the teeth too forcefully or using a hard bristled toothbrush causes the gums to move away and exposes root surfaces. It also cut down the tooth structure. Both of these conditions can lead to tooth sensitivity. Replace the brush when the bristles begin to spread. A worn out toothbrush will not clean the teeth properly. Pick the right brush like nylon and round-ended bristles to avoid damaging the gums.

Clean and change the toothbrush

The bristles of the toothbrush get damaged during brushing. After using it for long time they do not provide adequate cleaning and may injure the gums as well. To have the best results from brushing one must change the toothbrush on every 3-4 months. When the bristles start to loose their natural position on the head of the toothbrush it the time to change. After a cold or flue and children's toothbrushes have to be changed more often since they wear out earlier. Rinse thoroughly under cold water. The retainers should be clean.