[Sajikjeong Station Dental Clinic] The Right Way to Brush for Healthy Gums and Teeth

Hello, I’m Director Shim Seong-hwan of Sajikjeong Station Dental Clinic.

We brush our teeth once or twice, or three times a day, as we begin or end the day. But when I talk with patients at the clinic,

many people say, “I brush my teeth three times a day!” yet

they often do not actually know the correct method and just move the toothbrush around out of habit. And not many people realize that brushing carelessly like this can actually be worse than not brushing at all.

Brushing your teeth is not just about cleaning the teeth. It is an act of properly removing bacteria and food debris from the mouth to protect your teeth and gums. That is why when, how, and how much you brush are all very important.

First of all, you should brush at least twice a day, after breakfast and before bed. Many people brush as soon as they wake up in the morning. However, brushing after breakfast is more effective. That is because you need to remove the food debris and bacteria left in your mouth. Above all, do not skip brushing before bed. At night, saliva production decreases, creating a very favorable environment for bacteria to multiply. It can be said to be the most important time of the day.

Today, I will explain in detail based on the questions many people have about brushing their teeth.

The first and most important point

The time to brush

The first thing I want to emphasize is the time you brush. You should brush at least twice a day, after breakfast and before bed. Some people brush as soon as they wake up, but brushing after meals is much more effective.

The sugar and acids left behind after eating attack the teeth. And most importantly, brushing before bed matters the most. At night, saliva production decreases, so it becomes a time when bacteria are very active. If you do not clean your mouth well at this time, cavities and gum disease can easily develop.

In the clinic, I always make sure to say, “The brushing session you should put the most effort into today is the one before bed.”

The second and most important point

How to brush

Next is how to brush. A toothbrush is not just a tool for scrubbing. If you scrub too hard, you can wear down the teeth and cause the gums to recede. So it is better to tilt the toothbrush slightly toward the area where the teeth and gums meet, and gently brush with a small back-and-forth motion.

Rather than thinking of it as cleaning the teeth, think of it as sweeping away the dirt between the teeth and gums.

And brushing should take at least 2 minutes, and ideally about 3 minutes. Many people finish much faster than that, so if you use an electric toothbrush, I recommend making good use of the timer function.

What is important while brushing! Cleaning the tongue!

Also, one area many people overlook is the tongue. There are a great many bacteria living on the tongue, even though they are not visible to the eye. So if you feel like you still have bad breath, it is a good idea to develop the habit of gently cleaning your tongue when you brush. A tongue cleaner made specifically for that purpose exists, but gently cleaning it with the back of a soft toothbrush or the bristles is also enough.

The toothpaste you use does not have to be an expensive product. What matters is whether it contains an ingredient called fluoride. Fluoride helps strengthen teeth and prevent cavities. If you have gingivitis or your gums often swell, using a specialty toothpaste suited to your symptoms may also help. However, depending on the symptoms, consulting a professional is the most accurate way to determine which product is right.

Even if you brush well! Be sure to use floss!

And that is definitely not the end. No matter how diligently you brush, it is difficult to clean between the teeth. That is why you should use floss once a day. Some people say, “It’s too much trouble, so I can’t do it,” but in reality, most people who frequently develop cavities or gum disease are the ones who do not use floss.

If food gets stuck in areas the toothbrush cannot reach, it will continue to decay and cause inflammation. If flossing is difficult, you can use assistive tools such as an oral irrigator.

The third and most important point

Regular scaling checkups

It is also important to receive regular scaling at the dentist. Even if you clean your teeth very well yourself, tartar cannot ultimately be removed with a toothbrush, so regular checkups are essential. I recommend visiting the dentist once every 6 months, or at least once a year, to check the condition of your teeth and receive scaling.

Brushing is something we do every day, but whether we do it properly can make the condition of our teeth 10 or 20 years from now completely different. If spending just a few minutes a day can help protect your teeth for a long time, then that time is certainly not a waste.

So starting today, avoid brushing too hard and build the habit of brushing thoroughly and gently. Your teeth

and gums can become much healthier.

Most importantly, what matters is knowing the brushing method that suits you and putting it into practice. If dental care feels difficult, do not worry about it alone. Visit a nearby dental clinic and be sure to hear at least once about the care method that suits your mouth.