There’s no denying the importance of brushing your teeth. The practice has long been the most effective way to keep teeth clean and avoid tooth decay. Having said that, you could actually be making some crucial toothbrushing mistakes, causing more harm to your teeth than protection. Simply put, brushing is always important, but brushing properly is essential to the health of your teeth and gums.
At Spring Valley Dental Care, we know the importance of thoroughly brushing your teeth, and if you’re making these common toothbrushing mistakes to follow, your efforts are most likely in vain. Take a moment to learn more about the often-made mistakes and how you can better your oral care habits. Let’s take a look at five of the most commonly made mistakes.
5 Common Toothbrushing Mistakes
Good dental hygiene starts at home. While the dentist can assess your teeth and give them a thorough cleaning, you oral care regimen at home needs to be up to par. With this, you should ensure you’re effectively brushing your teeth, paying mind to the mistakes many patients often make. Take a look below to see if you make any of the toothbrushing mistakes listed:
- Overusing Your Brush: At a certain point (every 2-3 months), you need to renew your toothbrush, as it’ll collect bacteria and the bristles will weaken.
- Missing the Two-minute Mark: You should brush for 2 minutes twice a day, morning and night, to improve your efforts. Any shorter and you could be missing some crucial areas of your mouth.
- Brushing Right After a Meal: It may make sense to remove food from your teeth directly after eating, but brushing too soon after a meal can actually harm your teeth. After eating, the pH levels in your mouth increase and become more acidic, making brushing more abrasive.
- Brushing Too Hard: Similar to that above, you should be gentle when brushing your teeth, as you could cause harm to your gums and tooth enamel. Use a soft-bristled brush to protect your teeth and gums from damage.
- Leaving Your Brush Out: If you store your brush out in the open in your bathroom, airborne bacteria will find its way to your bristles. Keep your brush in a drawer or use a cover to keep it protected.
Toothbrushing Tips
In opposition to the mistakes listed above, you can make a few minor changes to your oral care regimen to enhance your efforts and thoroughly clean teeth. By avoiding the mistakes above and following the tips below, you’ll decrease your chances of tooth decay and gum disease, making trips to the dentist much easier. Check the tips out below:
- Start brushing your teeth in a different spot every time. This way, you’ll cover different areas of your mouth and avoid falling into the same pattern every time.
- Ensure your brush can reach back to the molars and the inner teeth. You may need to find a brush that fits your mouth better.
- Brush your teeth in a circular motion instead of back and forth.
- Be sure to brush your tongue before finishing, as bacteria from the tongue will eventually make its way back to the teeth.
- Keep your brush at a 45º angle to make sure you’re effectively cleaning the gum line.
Add Checkups with Dr. Boyer to the Mix
As you can see, brushing your teeth isn’t always effective, that is if you’re making the mistakes above. You should always brush your teeth regardless, but it’s crucial you brush properly to ensure clean teeth and not waste your time. In addition to avoiding these toothbrushing mistakes, you should also visit Spring valley Dental Care twice a year for checkups and cleanings. Here, Dr. Boyer can look for any underlying issues and ensure your teeth are thoroughly cleaned.
If you’d like to schedule an appointment, you can contact us here. You can also give us a call at 619.670.4471.