How to Properly Brush Your Teeth With a Round Head Electric Toothbrush

A study by the Cochrane Oral Health Group suggests that when used properly, electric toothbrushes with rotating heads may be more effective than manual toothbrushes at removing plaque and preventing gingivitis. No matter what type of toothbrush you use, the key to proper dental care is thorough brushing. Dentists recommend brushing your teeth twice daily for at least two minutes. However, Prof. Paul J. Vankevich of the Tufts School of Dental Medicine reports that most Americans brush their teeth for only 45 to 70 seconds.

Instructions

• 1

  Apply toothpaste sparingly to the brush. Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle to your gum line.

• 2

  Turn on the brush. Move it slowly over your teeth and gums, taking care to brush along the gum line and between the teeth. Don’t force the bristles against your teeth or use a scrubbing motion; instead, rock the brush gently against each tooth for a few seconds.

• 3

  Spend 30 to 45 seconds brushing each quadrant of your mouth: upper right, upper left, lower right and lower left. Start with the cheek side, proceed to the tongue side and finish with the chewing surfaces. Pay particular attention to hard-to-reach areas, such as behind your back teeth. Brush the inner surfaces of your front teeth by holding the brush upright and stroking your teeth and gum line vertically with the tip.

• 4

  Brush your tongue briefly from back to front to remove food particles and freshen your breath.