Toothbrushing 101: 5 Easy Steps from your Brampton Dentist
In the spirit of back-to-school season, we thought we’d go back to the basics for a minute and cover something you learned a long, long time ago: how to brush your teeth. Properly. I don’t mean a lazy, I-had-to-wake-up-early scrub and rinse. You know that’s not good for your teeth–don’t cut corners in one of the most crucial parts of good dental care!
If you think you could stand to, well, brush up on your brushing habits, don’t worry–you’re not alone. Your dentist in Brampton sees adults all the time who could use a little refresher course in mouth care. And because we care about you and your health, we’re here to remind you how to brush those teeth, in five simple steps.
1: Get the Right Angle
To start with, make sure you’re brushing at a 45 degree angle, rather than the more natural-feeling 90 degree angle. Keeping your brush slightly tilted will allow you to easily sweep or roll the brush away from the gum line, covering your entire tooth.
2: Be Thorough
Too many of us get lazy while we’re brushing, which results in missed areas and ample opportunity for plaque to build up. To avoid this, try brushing in chunks: maybe starting with all the outer surfaces, then moving to the inner surfaces, then finishing with the chewing surfaces. Move from the upper teeth to the lower teeth, or vice versa. But don’t always brush in the same order–the last place you brush could become neglected. Switch it up every now and then, always making sure you hit all surfaces.
3: Watch Your Motion
Big, sweeping back and forth motions can scrape surfaces and lead to gum recession, which can cause more serious problems–like gum disease–down the line. Hard brushing is also damaging. For the best results, use short, soft strokes and move in an up-and-down motion, rather than side-to-side.
4: Time It
We all know that we should brush for at least two minutes, twice a day. But let me tell you, many adults are far from getting their full four minutes in every day. Don’t slack here–the time factor is one of the most crucial ingredients in preventing tooth decay. After all, there’s no way you can do a truly thorough brush job in under two minutes. To help you put in the full time, every time, you can pull out the old-fashioned two minute egg timer, or try using the stopwatch on your phone.
5: Don’t Forget the Tongue
Even if you’re doing a top-notch job of brushing your teeth and flossing every day, you’re missing a big part of dental hygiene if you’re not brushing your tongue, too. Our tongues harbor a lot of the bacteria that cause bad breath and tooth decay, so brushing there is just as important as anywhere else. Clean it just like you do your teeth: brush (softly) back and forth, then side to side.
Your Brampton Dentist Cares
So there you have it, folks, five easy steps to make sure you’re brushing properly, twice a day, every day. Combine this habit with daily flossing and a dental examination every six months and you’ll be on the road to keeping your teeth strong, healthy and beautiful for a lifetime!
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Simrit has been working at Torbram Dental since 2001. She started her career with Assisting/Treatment co-ordinating and then moved on to becoming the Hygiene Co Ordinator in 2005. In 2012 she took on a new role as the Marketing Director. Though she loved being the Marketing Director, in 2015 she became the Office Manager of Torbram Dental. She completed her Level 1 Dental Assisting program with Career Canada in 1996 and then went on to complete her Level II Dental Assisting Diploma with Southwestern Medix in 1999. That is when she received NDAEB Certification. Simrit has been and still is an active member of the Ontario Dental Assistants Association since 2000. She enjoys hiking and traveling with her husband and two kids and loves to explore new restaurants, especially high-tea venues.
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Jessica, one of our receptionists, is one of the smiling faces you see when you arrive at the office. She graduated with honours from Medix College with a diploma as a Level 2 Dental Assistant. When she is not happily helping our patients, Jessica enjoys spending quality time with her friends and family, going to church on Sunday mornings, gardening and going on hikes.
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Naudia has been working at Torbram Dental for many years and is a valued member of our administrative team: as a dental receptionist and in our marketing team . She graduated from Everest College with honours level 1 and 2, with a diploma in Dental Assisting. Naudia is always there for our patients, making sure that they receive the care and attention they deserve. When not at the office, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking and indulging in civil court TV shows.
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Ramandeep has been a part of Torbram Dental for the past 10 years as certified dental assistant. She obtained her level 1 certification from Everest college in Brampton in 2013, and then her level 2 certification in 2014 from Medix college. Her career path through the clinic has been recognized by staff at all levels who admire her work ethic and dedication to million dollar smiles. In her spare time, Ramandeep enjoys cooking and gardening, and spending time with her husband and 2 kids.
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Sana is a valued member of our dental hygiene team. In 2008 she completed her education at George Brown in Dental Assisting and in 2016 she earned her diploma in Dental Hygiene from the Canadian Academy of Dental Health and Sciences. Sana has been working in dentistry since 2008 and enjoys taking care of our patients and helping them with their oral health. She is married and is busy with her 2 young children. In her spare time, Sana enjoys going out with the family, trying out new places to eat and is looking forward to travelling with them in the future.
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Sanaria has been working at Torbram Dental for many years as a valued member of our Dental Assisting Team. She completed her level 2 dental assisting certification and previously obtained a degree in Education and worked as a quality control officer in the pharmaceutical industry. When not at work Sanaria loves to bake and cook. She also loves story time and enjoying the outdoors with her children. She always sees the positive side of life, believes that nothing is impossible and that if you set a goal and work at it, that you will make your dreams come true.
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Carrie has been working at Torbram Dental since 2001. She graduated from George Brown College in 1998 with a Dental Assistant Diploma and continued to further her education by completing a Dental Hygiene Diploma in 2001 at Durham College. Carrie is a highly trained and experienced Registered Dental Hygienist who continues to learn and grow by updating her knowledge to provide her clients with the best Oral Health Care techniques and information. Carrie is passionate about Dentistry and is known for her gentle and compassionate manner. She feels strongly about building lasting relationships and trust with her clients to help them understand that good Oral Health leads to good Overall Health. Carrie enjoys travelling, dabbling in decorating and a good Netflix series in her time off. Carrie resides in Halton Hills with her husband and two children.
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Daniela's interest in Dentistry began in Gr.6 when she wrote a speech entitled "My Life as a Toothbrush".
A Registered Dental Hygienist with 22 years of clinical experience, Daniela still has a great passion for her career. The most rewarding aspect for her is building lasting relationships with her patients, and seeing them through to a healthier smile.
Her thorough yet gentle touch will ensure a comfortable visit every time.
Daniela is a total Foodie and loves to cook and enjoys all types of cuisines. She loves Florida, Cruises, organizing things, and most of all spending time with family and friends.
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Stephanie Enjoys getting to know all new patients at Torbram Dental and catching up with long standing Patients. Stephanie enjoys spending quality time with her family. One of her favorite things to do with her daughter is teach and play the piano. Stephanie likes going on walks with her husband and enjoys spending as much time with him as he is an Active Member of the Canadian Army. On Sundays, Stephanie enjoys going to Church and looks forward to Sunday Dinner with her entire family. Stephanie's Favorite thing to do to start her day right is head to her local Starbucks and Grab her favorite drink, an iced black tea with light lemonade on warm days and a blonde vanilla latte on those cold winter days.
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As a dedicated Dental Hygienist at Torbram Dental, Aalisha brings recent knowledge and experience to ensure the best oral health for our patients. She holds a Diploma in Dental Hygiene from the Toronto College of Dental Hygiene and Auxiliaries and has further enriched her education with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Waterloo. Beyond her professional qualifications, Aalisha has a zest for life that extends beyond the dental chair. She cherishes quality time with family and friends, thrives on outdoor adventures, and has a passion for hiking and water-based activities, especially during the sunny summer days. She is an avid traveler, exploring tropical paradises and historic destinations while immersing herself in diverse cultures and indulging in delicious culinary experiences."
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Supreet was born and raised in Punjab, India and came to Canada in 2016. She graduated from Sheridan College as an Environmental Lab Technician but later decided to change her career to dentistry. She completed her Level I and II Intra-Oral Dental Assisting course from George Brown College and graduated in 2023. In July 2023, Supreet joined the team at Torbram Dental where she enjoys working. In her free time, she loves to read books.
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