Four out of five dentists – disagree!

When it comes to brushing teeth – it seems four out of five dentists disagree. 

University College in London set out to determine the most effective brushing technique and surveyed dentists from all over the world. The dentists were split. 19% of them recommend the modified Bass Technique which involves brushing the teeth in small circles, starting with the back teeth. 11% prefer the traditional Bass Technique. This approach focuses on the gum area with a more vibrating motion. 

They were also at odd over how young children should brush. Some suggest horizontal is fine while others feel one of the more difficult Bass methods should be taught from the get-go.

The majority of dentists agreed on brushing time. Two to three minutes is ideal – twice a day. After crunching the dental data, the study determined that we should be holding our toothbrush at a 40% angle. It is also recommended that we use a pencil grip, as opposed to a fist, to avoid brushing too hard.