We hope you know it’s incredibly important to maintain a superb daily dental hygiene routine. However, it’s also important to maintain it the right way. Believe it or not, there are a number of ways people unknowingly harm their teeth while trying to take good care of their oral health! Below we’ve listed a few mistakes people often make.
5 Oral Hygiene Mistakes
- You are using the wrong kind of toothbrush
- You apply too much pressure when brushing
- You don’t brush long enough
- You brush immediately after eating
- You don’t floss correctly
You might be doing everything right, except for one thing: you’re using a bad toothbrush. Avoid using toothbrushes with firm, medium, or hard bristles. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and replace it every 3 months, or if the bristles look smashed or frayed. Additionally, it’s best to store your toothbrush upright instead of with a brush cover so the bristles can dry out between uses./p>
If you have sensitive teeth or receiving gums, you may be brushing too vigorously. When you brush your teeth, do so with gentle but deliberate pressure to protect your enamel and gums. If you struggle with applying an appropriate amount of pressure, invest in an electric toothbrush that has a pressure sensor. The bristles will stop rotating if you apply excessive pressure.
It’s critical to brush your teeth for a full two minutes twice a day. Too many people rush through brushing their teeth, which can cause complications later on. One, it allows for the accumulation of bacterial plaque and tartar that leads to tooth decay and gum irritation. And two, brushing too fast often involves a vigorous sawing motion. This scrubbing back and forth can literally wear away your enamel and damage your gums.
Remember to brush your teeth at least 30-60 minutes after eating. Many times people brush immediately after eating, but this can damage your enamel since it hasn’t had time to settle and re-harden from any acidic foods and beverages in your meal. If you want to wash away food particles right after eating, rinse between your teeth with a water flosser for 60-90 seconds and/or chew sugar-free gum for at least 20 minutes.
If you floss your teeth regularly, well done! Flossing is a crucial part of a healthy oral care routine, as it removes bacteria hiding in between your teeth and under your gumline. But make sure you’re flossing correctly. Don’t just pop the floss in and out between your teeth; curve the floss around the tooth, scrape up and down along its surface, and extend down below the gumline. Follow the advice of Edmund R. Hewlett, DDS, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Dentistry: “You should always run the floss along the tooth structure in the shape of a C rather than just snapping quickly between each tooth.”
Schedule Your Next Checkup!
Proper preventive dental care includes daily at-home care, as well as regular professional cleanings and checkups. Has it been more than six months since your last dental visit? If so, contact us at Springs Village Dentistry to set up an appointment with our expert team today.
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