Menu

Cleaning Your Teeth—Time for a Refresher Course!

Let’s face it, by now, brushing our teeth is something we pretty much do on auto-pilot. A quick brush after breakfast, a minute or so at night, floss when we think of it. Done. But take a few minutes to review these cleaning tips, and see if a few small adjustments to your routine could make all the difference at your next checkup at our Benbrook, Texas office.

  • Tools

Some of us prefer brushing with a manual brush. Some like the electric brush for ease and comfort. Whichever form of brush you choose, be sure that it fits comfortably in your mouth, reaches everywhere it needs to, and has a handle that is easy to grip. There are many bristle options available, so if you are an energetic brusher, or if you have sensitive gums, try a soft bristled brush for gentler brushing.

If you haven’t been exploring the floss aisle lately, there are now many varieties available to suit your particular needs. Besides the traditional floss, there are coated flosses for easy gliding between teeth that fit closely together, dental tape-style flosses to fit teeth with wider spacing, and even flosses designed just for braces that thread between the wires and brackets. Talk to the doctor at your next cleaning for product suggestions if you think there’s an easier, more comfortable option out there for you.

  • Technique

With proper technique, any toothbrush and floss you choose will do a fine job of removing plaque.

Brushing? There’s a tried and true method for success. Place the toothbrush at a 45° angle at the gum line. Be sure to brush the outside, inside, and chewing surface of each tooth thoroughly. Remember the expression, “Massage, don’t scrub.” Over-vigorous brushing can actually irritate gum tissue and damage enamel. An electric toothbrush should provide a continuous brushing motion without needing any pressure from the brusher. This might be the model for you if you have a too-vigorous approach to brushing, or sensitive teeth and gums. If you like your manual brush, again, give a soft-bristled brush a try!

As for flossing? That harmless-looking little string can cause gum damage if used too forcefully. You can accomplish the placement and cleaning power you need by easing the floss down to the gumline and flossing with gentle pressure against the tooth surface. If you have any questions about technique, remember—we are always happy to let you know the best cleaning methods for your specific needs.

  • Timing

Of course, the best tools and the best technique in the world won’t be effective unless you put the right amount of time into brushing and flossing.

The standard rule is two minutes of brushing in the morning and two minutes at night. If you wear braces or have other special circumstances, we might recommend brushing after every meal. And if you brush after breakfast, give your teeth half an hour or so to remineralize. This natural process uses the calcium and phosphate ions in your saliva to strengthen tooth enamel after it’s been exposed to any acidic foods in your breakfast.

Thorough flossing can be accomplished in a few minutes, and might be needed only once a day. But again, depending on your individual needs, we might have other recommendations. Let’s review what works for you at your next visit—we can tailor suggestions for a brushing routine to your unique needs.

It’s a great idea to review your brushing habits periodically to make sure you are getting the most out of those minutes you spend cleaning your teeth. There won’t be a test at the end of this review, and you won’t get a gratifying grade or a gold star. What you will get is much more important—better checkups, fewer cavities, and healthy teeth and gums. Happy cleaning!

Contact Us

Send Us an Email

Our Location

Find us on the map

Hours of Operation

Our Regular Schedule

Monday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

9:00 am-2:00 pm

Friday:

9:00 am-2:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Whitening, TMJ, TMD, Migraine Headache, AGGA Biobloc Alf DNA TAP Appliance, Orthotropics, Epigenetic Orthodontics, Cosmetic Laser Dentistry, Implants Crown, All on Four, Invisalign, Postural Restoration Institute, Craniofacial Dystrophy, Airway Centric Dentist, Breathing, Lip Buccal Tongue Tie, Breastfeeding, Nursing, Fillings, Myofunctional Craniosacral Speech Physical Therapy, Myofascial Massage, Veneers, Bridge, Partial Implant Overdenture Denture, Mewing, Tonsil, Adenoid, Deviated Septum, Turbinate Reduction, Neck Back Hip Pain, Scoliosis, Braces, Cranial Strain, Craniomandibular Orthopedics, Abscess, Deep Front Line, Cranial Nerve Function, Infant Frenectomy Stretches, Nasal Sinus Surgery, Root Canal, Mandibular Advancement Appliance, MAA, MMA Surgery, UPPP, NightLase, OroLase, BabyLase, LipLase, Snoring, Obstructive Central Sleep Apnea, Enuresis, Nocturia, ADHD, ODD, MTHFR C677T A1298C Factor V Homozygous Heterozygous Gene Mutation, ADD, Brain Health, Functional Anterior Galella Growth Appliance, Tooth Decay, Cavity, Riva Star Silver Diamine Fluoride, Fort Worth Benbrook Tarrant County Family General Physiologic Pediatric Childrens Holistic Sleep Dentist, Flossing, Brushing, Dental Medical Insurance, Nierman, OralDNA, Digital, Prosomnus, Snore, CPAP, Birth, Midwife, Doula, Bebe Myomunchee, Ankyloglossia, Anxiety, Autism Spectrum Disorder, ASD, Special Needs, Vaccine Injury, Buteyko, OMT, Down Syndrome, Ehlers Danlos, TRS, Arnica, Rescue Remedy, Folate Folic Acid, Homocysteine, Oral Surgery, Endodontics, Periodontal Gum Disease, Periodontics, Prophylaxis, Extraction, Toothache, Chiropractor, EyeLase, TightLase, Facelift, Botox, Stroke, High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Gluten, Autoimmune, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Home Sleep Study, UConcept, Polysomnography, HST, PSG, Trisomy, Loose broken baby tooth, eruption, Composite Porcelain, Facial Beauty Institute, Scaling Root Planing, Arestin, Saliva, Salivamax, Neutrasal, Dry Mouth, Biotene, Prevident, Muscle Relaxer, Allergy, Allergies, LPR, Laryngeal-pharyngeal Reflux, Inflammation, Uvula, Jaw Growth, tethered oral tissue, Grinding, Bruxism, Splint, Nightguard, Trauma, OralID, Schizophrenia, Depression, Heart Rate Variability, Rhinometer, Pharyngometer, Amalgam, Epworth, Lamberg, Debridement, Gingivitis, Gingival Graft, Xylitol, Hygiene, Hygienist, Emergency, Glo, UARS, Upper Airway Resistance Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Baby Led Weaning, Breast Prostate Colon Cancer, Thumb sucking, Tongue Thrust, Nitric Oxide, Night Terrors, Sleep Walking Talking, Fibromyalgia, CFS, Obesity, OSA, AHI, Hypoxia, Alzheimer's, Dementia, REM, Panic Attack, Premature Low Birth Weight, Erectile Dysfunction, ED, SDB, Sleep Disordered Breathing, SIDS, RERAs, Gelb, Leptin, Grehlin, Mouth Breathing Taping, Nail biting, Asthma, Bipolar, Ear Infection Tubes Grommets, Dark Circles, GERD, Nasal Dilator Cones, Xlear, Breathe Right Strips, TOTs, Thyroid, Habit Corrector, Lisp, Pregnancy, Newborn, NICU, Vaccinations, Herpes, Cold Sores, Canker Sores, Posture, Inspire, Hypoglossal Nerve, Pharynx, Pharyngeal Pillars, HRV, Dystonia, Tremor, Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis, Dysautonomia, Circadian Rhythm, Tummy Time, Gummy Smile, Integrative Functional Dentistry, Slow Growth, Picky Eater, Sensory Issues, Texture Issues, Chewing, Gut Health, Probiotics, Immunity, Glymphatics, Lymphatic Drainage, Maxillary Mandibular Expansion, Distraction Osteogenesis, Sympathetic Autonomic Nervous System, Insomnia, Narcolepsy, Behavior, Sippy Cup, Pacifier, Stress, PANS, Tapping, Suicide, Screen Time, Blue Light, Sleep Hygiene, Infant Mortality, Aging, Breast Milk, Carotid Plaque, Atrial Natriuretic Peptide, ANP, scalloping, Concentration, Radiation, Chemotherapy, Anti-psychotic, Inhaler, Nebulizer, Otitis Media, Anesthesia, Sedation, Cerebrospinal Fluid, CSF, Upledger, Oxidative Stress, Weight Gain, Diaphragm, Forward Head, Dowager's Hump, Naps, Frenotomy, digital xrays, digital radiographs