I’m guessing (or at least hoping) that you learned to brush your teeth at a really young age and you’ve probably been brushing them pretty much that same way since then. You may have gotten a more grown up toothpaste that doesn’t taste like bubblegum and your toothbrush may not have a picture of Elmo on it anymore, but you likely still use the same method to brush.
A Better Way to Brush?
Just like we eventually grow out of bubblegum flavored blue toothpaste (Tip: use a natural toothpaste with your kids too!), there is a science-backed and more effective way to brush your teeth as well. Statistically, all of us could use an upgrade to our oral hygiene habits anyway, as over 90% of adults have some form of gum disease!
The early symptoms of gum disease are often ignored, and what starts as just bleeding gums or bad breath can eventually cause severe oral health problems and even tooth loss. Research is finding that not only is gum disease a leading cause of tooth loss in adults, but those bacteria living in the mouth and under the gums can cause systemic problems in the body as well! (That is why those with heart trouble and certain other medical conditions are told to take an antibiotic whenever getting their teeth cleaned at the dentist.)
While brushing alone won’t necessarily stop gum disease, there is a particular method of brushing that was discovered years ago that more effectively fights these harmful strains of bacteria in the mouth.
It’s All About That Bass…
Ok, ok… not the song, but an old school doctor named Dr. Charles Bass who discovered this method of brushing (now called the Bass Brushing method). At the time, Dr. Bass was the youngest person to become Dean of a medical school and was a pioneer in his field, carrying the first microscope west of the Mississippi River. (source)
Although he was academically gifted, his teeth weren’t as genetically fortunate, and at a young age, he was diagnosed with advanced gum disease and his dentist recommended complete removal of all of his teeth. He didn’t find this option particularly appealing (who would!) and instead decided to use his medical knowledge to try to address the disease scientifically.
Using his microscope, Dr. Bass identified the strains of bacteria in his mouth and used the microscope to gauge if different methods he tried were working to fight his gum disease, eventually identifying a method of brushing and a special toothbrush that helped reverse his gum disease. He was said to have died with all of his teeth in his mouth.
Why You Should Brush Your Gums
The method that Dr. Bass discovered for brushing, the “Bass Brushing” technique, is effective because it addresses bacterial colonization in the gums and doesn’t just focus on “scrubbing” the surface of the teeth. Dr. Bass found that many toothbrushes are too abrasive with bristles too close together to effectively address bacteria in the gums, so he created a brush called the Bass Brush that has bristles farther apart to be able to effectively reach the gums as well.
These specialized brushes also have rounded tips instead of the sharp/straight tips of most bristles, making them gentler on the gums. I have several family members who were told they were brushing too hard and had receding gums as a result. This brushing method and these more gentle toothbrushes help address this problem as well. Here’s a visual of the difference:
While the Bass Brushes are recommended for this method (these are the brushes we use), some people have noticed some of the benefits from using the Bass method with their regular toothbrushes.
How to Brush Your Teeth With the Bass Brushing Method
First, hold the toothbrush gently! You’re not cleaning a grout line, so rather than holding the toothbrush like a scrub brush, hold it gently so your arm can relax and apply the small movements required for the Bass brushing technique:
- Hold the brush at the commonly recognized 45 degree angle to the tooth and gum line.
- The main difference in the Bass technique is how small the movements are. The Bass brushing technique uses very small lateral strokes along the gum line.
- It’s almost like you aren’t “brushing” your teeth. Rather, you place the toothbrush at a spot along the gum line and gently wiggle using very small, fine back-and-forth motions to get the bristles down between the teeth and under the gum line.
- Count to 5, then move to the next place with your brush and repeat.
- The small motion takes practice, but in time, you will be amazed at how much healthier your gums will feel!
Here’s a video that shows the method and explains why it works:
My Personal Tooth Brushing Story
When I was younger, I had swollen gums that started when I had braces (the latex in the rubber bands irritated my gums). Even years after the braces came off, my dentist always commented that my gums were swollen, especially on my bottom front teeth. A few years ago, he was worried that I had the beginning of gingivitis in my gums and that due to the swelling, it was hard to effectively clean under the gums.
It wasn’t until years later when I started using natural toothpaste options and Bass Toothbrushes that the swelling in my gums finally went away completely. Since switching, my gums are not swollen and my teeth are no longer sensitive to cold.
For years I used OraWellness Heal Thy Mouth Blend as toothpaste or in homemade toothpaste recipes since it contains oils that help battle the bacteria in the mouth. Now, I use my Wellnesse Whitening & Remineralizing Toothpaste since I know exactly what’s in it and I obviously created it to meet all of my healthy mouth specifications!
I also use a copper tongue scraper to help get rid of residual bacteria hanging out in my mouth.
If you want try to make your toothpaste instead (as I did for years), I recommend these homemade recipes:
Even if you decide to stick with the cartoon character toothbrush, try brushing your teeth with the Bass Brushing Method instead. Your teeth and gums will thank you!
Ever used a Bass toothbrush or any other natural toothpaste? Share your experience below!
Our family is using Miswak (or Sewak), it is a little branch of a tooth tree, which grows in Arabic countries. You soak it’s end and then chew it a bit, so like this it becomes a toothbrush. But it gives me the most amazing feeling of cleaned teeth, even if I don’t have the toothpaste with me at the moment.
We used that in Africa. Amazingly effective!
Thanks for reminding me I need to order some of these toothbrushes. I wanted to mention that I’ve suffered from tonsil stones (tonsilliths) for years. They were responsible for some embarrassingly bad breath, but almost 2 years ago I started using the remineralizing tooth powder and I have NOT had tonsil stones since then. The tooth powder has been life-changing and that is no exaggeration.
Hey I suffer from really bad tonsil stone. My whole tonsil are filled with them and I mean filled I usually get three out of the same spot at once. I was told a few years ago I needed to have my tonsils removed but I never did it. Can you tell me more about your toothpaste?
Thank you
We rinse with diluted 35% food grade peroxide. Its great for gingivitis, bad breath etc etc!
Have rinsed with peroxide too. I just make sure not to do it too often, as I read it can cause problems (separation of gum & teeth, etc.) if used too frequently.
Thank you for sharing! I ordered toothbrushes for my whole family and picked up some of the floss they offer. I am ECSTATIC that the toothbrushes are made in the USA!
Do you ever floss?
Of course, almost daily 🙂
I have never heard of these brushes…….but I wonder if you have heard about a German dentist Dr Philips……he invented blotting brushes and said that flossing and brushing makes things worse pushing the plaque further into the gums…………..
Blotting brushes cured my gum disease in 3 weeks……..the dentist, who I call the queen of extractions, wanted to pull them all out!
Unfortunately the blotting brushes are not available now………..I still have a couple so now I will look at the other method you mentioned.
Thanks
Oral care is on my to-learn list! I took down your toothpaste recipe so I need to buy the ingredients and get to making it! I’ve always had gum issues. Mine are so sensitive and get swollen and bleed easily. I’ve been doing what I can to try and rebuild and make better.
Hi Katie,
I have receding gums (I’m only 25! Years of poor diet + aggressive brushing) and I’m concerned about making them worse.
Wouldn’t brushing at the gum line exacerbate the problem?
Is there any way to REVERSE the damage I’ve done to my gums, i.e., can I regrow them?
Thank you!
Email the people at OraWellness. They are really helpful and have dealt first hand with that and reversed it. Long story short though- it is possible to reverse it and brushing this way should not make it worse
Hi Sara,
Like you, I was an aggressive brusher from childhood, believing it made my cleaner teeth. By my earlier twenties I had receding gums, particularly severe on one side of my mouth. The dentist told me to brush gently and use a soft toothbrush. Thanks to that advice, I immediately started paying attention the fact that toothbrushes came in soft, medium and hard varieties. I started buying soft toothbrushes and brushing gently; that is, learning to hold the toothbrush very loosely in my hand and not gripping it hard as I used to. Now in my fifties, I can tell you that while my receding gums never regrew, they have never worsened in all that time. My gums are healthy and pink due to diligent flossing since my teen years and keeping good mouth hygiene practices, and I have not had any teeth issues where I have the receding gums.
Like you, I worried and panicked when I was so young and realised the damage I’d done to my gums, and enamel too, by brushing so hard for years, but changing my brushing habits back then made all the difference in the world to losing my teeth!
I hope this helps with the worry.
I recently bought a Water Pik and am amazed, even after brushing and flossing, how many small food particles still remain that are removed via irrigation. These particles could contribute to bacterial growth, causing gum disease and cavities. Seeing is believing — I now regard irrigating before bed (and after meals) an indispensable part of good oral hygiene.
I used to have that problem too, and the technique my dentist taught me at the time that made it reverse it was to brush in a rotating movement always from the gum to the tooth, as the back and forth movement was causing the gum to get “loose” from the tooth and recede. I had not heard of the Bass technique until now so I may try it too. But haven’t had receded gum since doing it that way!
I have receding gums (I’m only 25 — TERRIBLE diet + aggressive brushing did this to me) and I’m concerned about aggravating the problem. Wouldn’t brushing directly on the gum line make it worse?
Thank you. 🙂
Hi Sara,
Like you, I was an aggressive brusher from childhood, believing it made my cleaner teeth. By my earlier twenties I had receding gums, particularly severe on one side of my mouth. The dentist told me to brush gently and use a soft toothbrush. Thanks to that advice, I immediately started paying attention the fact that toothbrushes came in soft, medium and hard varieties. I started buying soft toothbrushes and brushing gently; that is, learning to hold the toothbrush very loosely in my hand and not gripping it hard as I used to. Now in my fifties, I can tell you that while my receding gums never regrew, they have never worsened in all that time. My gums are healthy and pink due to diligent flossing since my teen years and keeping good mouth hygiene practices, and I have not had any teeth issues where I have the receding gums.
Like you, I worried and panicked when I was so young and realised the damage I’d done to my gums, and enamel too, by brushing so hard for years, but changing my brushing habits back then made all the difference in the world to losing my teeth!
I hope this helps with the worry.
As a experience user of bass brushes I say it’s very gentle and doesn’t damage or harm the gums at all 😉
Hiya, The idea of brushing below the gum line seems “wrong” but what actually causes problems is the plaque build-up under the gums. Brushing as Wellness Mama describes helps to deter plaque build-up and so is healthier for your teeth and gums than just brushing over the surface. Another item I have been looking into lately is Xylitol. I have very bad dry mouth at night due to a medication I must take at the moment. I tried all different types of tablets, solutions, mints, but they all left me with “sugar mouth” and horrible morning breath, plus I didn’t like the idea of any sugar left in my mouth all night and hate artificial sweeteners. After doing some research, I discovered that not only will Xylitol not cause that issue, it actually interfers with plaque formation — bonus! So now when I awake in the night with dry mouth, I pop a Xylitol mint (being sure to finish it so no choking!) and drift off back to sleep. And in the morning, my mouth still feels relatively clean and no morning breath! I use Sprys lemon mints, they are small and once my mouth is moistened, I just crush the remaining mint and go back to sleep — sorted!!
My sister in law had issue with xylitol. Made bathroom stops frequent til she figured it out. She had xylitol gum however.
I have been using many of your suggestions, including oil pulling and brushing with activated charcoal. I used to use white strips from time to time, but they made my teeth very sensitive. I have not used of them since December 2012…. The charcoal and coconut oil are keeping my teeth nice and white!
I am very intrigued by the toothbrush. I definitely have a tendency to brush too hard. Do your teeth feel clean, even with the soft rounded bristles?
They feel cleaner now, especially with the homemade toothpaste 🙂
biggest oral health challenge is bleeding gums and keeping my teeth white