Maintaining oral hygiene is essential to keep gum diseases at bay. Proper tooth brushing technique helps to prevent and control the gum disease. It cleans the teeth below the gums where micro-organisms, food debris, plaque tend to gather. Brushing should performed twice a day irrespective of age. Tooth brush should be change every 3-4 months for efficient plaque control. Brushing should started in children as soon as their milk tooth erupts (6 months) either with a soft cloth or soft toothbrush. Know more about the correct Brushing technique.
What is the correct Brushing technique?
What are the 4 brushing techniques?
A) Fone’s/ Sulcular/ Scrub technique for children suggests:
The brush is to move in big circles on outer surface of the teeth and partly in the gums. Initially big circles are made and then reduced to smaller circles. Brush the inner surfaces by tilting the brush vertically and making several up and down strokes. The chewing surfaces cleaned by making back and forth strokes.
B) Modified Bass technique for adult brushing suggests:
Place the brush at a 45 degree angle towards the gum, on outer surface of teeth and partly on the gums. Bristles are vibrated by moving the brush back and forth and in circular motion. The bristles are sweeped away over the surfaces of the teeth towards the occlusal/Incisal surfaces. This very important step as the food particles that lodged in the gums effectively removed by the sweeping motion. The inside surface of the posterior teeth are cleaned in the same manner. The inside surface of front teeth cleaned by using up and down strokes. Chewing surfaces cleaned by moving the brush in back and forth motion. Medium bristle toothbrush usually indicated for this technique.
C) Modified Stillman brushing technique for adults suggests:
Place the brush at a 45 degree angle towards the gums. Bristles placed partly on the gums and partly on the cervical portion of the teeth. The sides of the bristles placed firmly rather than the ends. Care taken not to penetrate the gingival sulcus. Brush moved with short back and forth circular motion towards the occlusal surface. Soft bristle toothbrush indicated.
D) Charter’s technique for adults undergone periodontal surgery or with ortho appliances suggests:
Bristles placed at 45 degrees angle to the long axis of the teeth in an opposite direction as compared to modified Bass and modified Stillman .i.e the bristles directed coronally. After adaptation the bristles point away from the gingival margin but towards the interproximal surfaces of the teeth. After placing the bristles at gingival margin circular strokes made. Chewing surfaces cleaned by shirt back and forth strokes. Soft/medium bristle toothbrush indicated for this technique.
What brushing technique to follow?
You simply follow the basic technique of whichever method you choose, but after brushing an area, you roll or sweep the bristles toward the chewing surfaces. This action sweeps out debris stuck between the teeth and cleans the entire tooth surface. The sweeping motion also helps prevent damage to the spaces between teeth and gums. Maintaining oral hygiene is essential to keep gum diseases at bay.
Correct way of brushing technique helps to prevent and control the gum disease. It cleans the teeth below the gums where micro-organisms, food debris, plaque tend to gather. Brushing should performed twice a day irrespective of age. Tooth brush should be change every 3-4 months for efficient plaque control and maintaining oral hygiene.
This may sound weird, but there use too modified versions of the bass, stillman and charter techniques. You simply follow the basic technique of whichever method you choose, but after brushing an area, you roll or sweep the bristles toward the chewing surfaces. This action sweeps out debris stuck between the teeth and cleans the entire tooth surface. The sweeping motion also helps prevent damage to the spaces between teeth and gums.
You may replace your toothbrush every three to four months. Worn, frayed brushes don’t clean well, and older brushes can harbour bacteria. Don’t forget the fluoride toothpaste, which strengthens tooth enamel and prevents tooth decay. And floss at least once a day to clean where your toothbrush doesn’t reach.
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