Brushing Techniques
Maintain a healthier smile with proper brushing techniques that protect your teeth and gums. Using the right brushing method helps remove plaque, prevent cavities, and keep your overall oral hygiene strong. Our recommended techniques are designed to clean every part of your mouth effectively and gently. Don’t forget to brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath. Using a soft-bristled brush and fluoride toothpaste enhances protection against decay
Date : April, 2026
Doctor : Charles Prem Kumar
How important is brushing?
Brushing is very important as it keeps our teeth and gums healthy. It helps to clean dirt between the gums and the teeth and also between two teeth. Brushing technique should be soft (to message the gums) and firm (to remove dirt).Brushing reduces the risk of infection and cavities making both teeth as well as gums strong.
How important is the tooth paste in brushing?
Tooth paste contains fluoride which helps to fight plaque, polish teeth, reduces decay and gives a fresh breadth. A good tooth paste fights acid attack ,when the acid is created by the bacteria present in the mouth.
What are the methods of brushing?
There are 2 common techniques of brushing i.e. bass and fone’s methods of brusing.Bass technique are used by adults and fone’s is for the children.
Bass technique is for routine use; in this the brush is at 45 degree to the long axis of the teeth. The bristles are used to clean the area between the gums and the teeth as well as between two teeth. After this brushing is done with front and back strokes along with vibratory action. Posterior and anterior strokes are used for the eating surface.
Fone´s technique is very effective for children. In this the brush is placed at 90 degree on outer surface. The teeth are closed and rotary action of the brush helps to clean the teeth. This technique is easy to follow.
What types of brushes are available in the market?
There are 3 types of brushes. Soft brushes are for those who have sensitive gums. They can clean food particles but if the gap between the teeth is less, cleaning becomes difficult. Medium brushes are for those who have healthy gums and teeth. Hard brushes are cheap but have a negative effect on the teeth; they lead to tooth abrasion which exposes the root of the teeth making the teeth sensitive to hot/cold.
When should a brush be changed?
Normally a brush needs replacement after every 3 months. Moreover brushes should be changed after cold/flu. There are indicator brushes available in the market which have a blue color in the center, when this color fades the brush should be changed.
Does incorrect brushing have negative effects?
Yes ,there can be a number of problems such as tooth staining, gum bleeding and infection, gums get receded which in turn makes the teeth look big and the root of the teeth is exposed, bad breathe ,wearing of teeth, teeth becomes sensitive etc.