India's Tooth Brushing Habit

Teeth are an essential part of our body and they determine our overall health to a great extent. Dental expert talks about oral health. There are many factors which affect the oral health and the most important one is the brushing technique.

As majority of Indian population resides in rural areas, basic oral health education is the most neglected chapter. Lack of proper guidance and professional help are also contributory factors in the undermining of oral health. One of the prime misconceptions is in the brushing technique, which is regular aggressive use of a horizontal brushing motion and the usage of a hard brush.

Excessive rubbing causes erosion of enamel, which leads to sensitivity. As per a survey conducted in 2017 one out of every three Indian suffers from sensitivity. The enamel is a shield that protects the tooth from damage preventing decay. Once tooth enamel is damaged, it cannot be brought back. However, weakened enamel can be restored to some degree by improving its mineral content.

How do you know if you are brushing too hard:

Tooth Sensitivity:

Sensitivity is when hot, cold, sweet or very acidic foods and drinks makes teeth or a tooth painful or sensitive. Hard brushing causes erosion of enamel, which leads to sensitivity.

Receding and Bleeding Gums: If you brush too hard you can damage the gum tissue and make it begin to recede which exposes more of your tooth. Bleeding gums can also be a sign of aggressive brushing. We need is to learn the proper techniques of brushing.

Here are some measures we can implement in our daily life to avoid hard brushing:

Brush twice daily for a maximum of two to three minutes: Brushing more than two times a day and more than two to three minutes each time is inadvisable as it causes enamel erosion.

Wait half an hour after meals before brushing: After meal your teeth's outer layers or enamel are temporarily softened. Brushing the teeth immediately after rubs acids from the food into the enamel, breaking them down and intensifying the sensitivity.

Use Bass technique for brushing: Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle, brush gently in a circular motion, and hold the toothbrush in your fingertips, not in the palm of your hand. First, the outer

surface of the teeth is cleaned followed by the inner surface present around the tongue. Lastly, brush the chewing surface of the teeth to end up with the brushing session.