Each brushing technique is designed to address specific oral health concerns, and the choice of the technique can depend on an individual's unique dental needs.
Manual Brushing
Bass
Angle: Tilt the brush to a 45 degree angle and move the bristles slightly under the gumline.
Motion: Using firm but gentle pressure, wiggle or vibrate the brush back and forth or use a small circular motion 10 times, keeping the bristles under the gum tissue, before moving to the next area. The brush should cover two to three teeth at a time. Brush the entire outer surface of the teeth and then continue the same technique on the tongue side. To brush the insides of the front teeth, hold the toothbrush in a vertical position and use the bristles on the toe of the brush, but make sure they are getting under the gum tissue. Brush the biting surface of the teeth and tongue.
Modified Bass
Angle: Tilt the brush to a 45 degree angle and move the bristles slightly under the gumline.
Motion: Using firm but gentle pressure, wiggle or vibrate the brush back and forth or use a small circular motion 10 times, keeping the bristles under the gum tissue, before moving to the next area. The brush should cover two to three teeth at a time. Brush the entire outer surface of the teeth and then continue the same technique on the tongue side. To brush the insides of the front teeth, hold the toothbrush in a vertical position and use the bristles on the toe of the brush, but make sure they are getting under the gum tissue. Brush the biting surface of the teeth and tongue.
Same as above with a flick away from the gum and rotating the tooth head towards the occlusal
Stillmans
To implement this method, follow the Bass technique, but after vibrating the brush under the gum area, move the brush toward the chewing surface of the tooth and use short back-and-forth strokes.
Charters
Good for Px with Orthdontics, partial dentures
Angle: Place the bristles on the gumline at a 45 degree angle pointing toward the chewing surface or crown of the tooth. This position is the opposite of the Bass and Stillman technique.
Motion: Gently vibrate the brush for 15 to 20 counts, using short circular strokes or small back and forth motions, and then reposition the brush to the next area.Move around the mouth in the same pattern, brushing all tooth surfaces, both inner and outer, as well as the chewing surfaces of the molars.
Electric brushing
Angle: Angle is 90 degree to the tooth surface. Start 0.5mm into the sulcus, some pressure but not too hard.
Other Instructions
Frequency: - 2x/day ( morning and night), preferably after flossing
Choice of toothbrush: use a soft bristle toothbrush, small head size
Beginning: start at a different spot each time
Change: change the brush every 3 months or once worn out
Duration: roughly 2 minutes length of brushing
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