You know that Toothbrushing your teeth is important. But did you know that you might be making mistakes that can cause more harm than good? Toothbrushing mistakes can actually cause problems like gum recession, tooth sensitivity, and weakened tooth enamel.
Well, brushing might seem like an easy task to do but truth is, most of us brush our pearly whites in the wrong way. Not only we don’t sufficiently remove the plaque accumulated on our teeth, but we might also harm our enamel. On the list that follows you can find the most common brushing mistakes!
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1. Using Wrong toothbrush
The most common brushing mistakes is not using the right kind of toothbrush.
There are two styles of toothbrushes to consider: manual and electric. Choose what feels comfortable and motivated to brush your teeth regularly.
A manual toothbrush is portable and ready to use every time you need it. It makes no noise, and you have complete control over the pressure that it puts on your teeth and gums.
An powered or electric toothbrush requires charging and does make some noise while brushing. The rotating movement of the bristles makes it easier to clean between the teeth and the gum line. Many electric powered toothbrushes come with built in sensors to control how much pressure you are putting on your teeth and timers to indicate how long you should brush for which really makes it handy.
When picking a toothbrush you have to keep in mind :
- Pick a toothbrush with a small head. If the head of the brush is too big it won’t be able to fit in all the areas in your mouth that demands cleaning.
- Don’t Pick one with medium hard bristles. You may think that the harder the bristles the better the cleaning but you are wrong! The harder the bristles, more the damage to your enamel.But infact on other hand if you choose a toothbrush with very soft bristles, you are not cleaning anything is a wrong concept!
2. Very hard and fast brushing
You don’t need to scrub your teeth,you just have to gently clean the food remnants and plaque. Don’t be harsh on them, because you will end up with a destroyed enamel and your teeth will become prone to decay.
3. Storing your toothbrush wet
The problem with storing your toothbrush wet is when you store your toothbrush in a confined space such as a drawer or cabinet and If it stays moist in a small space, it will become a breeding ground for bacteria. Make sure it dries before you put your toothbrush away.
Once you are finished brushing your teeth, the American Dental Association suggests to let your toothbrush air dry, upright, not touching any other toothbrush heads or surfaces. Before you start brushing, rinse the bristles of your toothbrush thoroughly with warm water to remove any debris, and do the same after you have finished. The handle of your toothbrush is also quite important. Make sure to often wipe it down and keep it clean
4. Not Replacing your Old toothbrush
It’s important that you change your toothbrush or electric toothbrush head about every three to four months. If the bristles are very frayed you should change it sooner. Consider getting a new toothbrush sooner if you have been sick. When in doubt, look at the bristles, if they are frayed, they won’t clean teeth as thoroughly.
5. Using Wrong technique of toothbrushing
It’s a common brushing mistake,going along your teeth, left to right. But this is not effective.
Start from the gum, and go up and down in little circular, up-and-down motions.
6. You forget the tongue and gum line
Bacteria often hang out where your tooth meets your gum. We miss that area a lot.
Brushing your teeth means brushing your whole surface of the tooth. Or at least everything you can get to with your brush.
A lot of people miss this step. Brushing your tongue is also just as important as brushing your teeth. Your tongue is a breeding ground for bacteria as it tends to linger on your tongue. Make cleaning your tongue part of your routine after you brush your teeth.
7. Wrong time of brushing
It’s intriguing, sometimes, to immediately run to the restroom to get rid of the remnants of that meal you just had.
That’s better than not brushing at all. But still, this is not quite healthy and here is why.
Two minutes twice a day is the recommended duration for a tooth brushing session.
2 minutes is recommended for a reason. Any brushing duration shorter than 2 minutes does not give the optimum fluoride in your toothpaste enough time to do its job and attach to the enamel surface in your teeth.
So brush your pearly whites two minutes, set a timer, play a song. Whatever helps you stick to the 2 minute rule.
8.You don’t stick to your daily hygiene routine
It is very usual for you to get bored or be in a rush and you neglect your oral care regime. But is it really worth it to destroy your smile over boredom?
Try to follow your routine at least once a day, your whole routine though. Toothbrushing-Flossing-Mouthwash.
Be consistent
Be healthy
Talk to our cosmetic dentist at Infinity Dental Dr. Damini Agarwal best dentist in Lucknow to know more about oral care regime at the best dental clinic in Lucknow
