When it comes to oral health, most of us are guilty of not giving it as much care as it deserves. Neither we take our teeth and gums seriously, nor try to maintain their health. We think that not brushing or flossing for some day won’t harm at all. More so, a good number of us even don’t visit the dentist regularly which may let some problem to fester beneath. The worse still, we make mistakes with tooth brushing and this harms our oral health. If you want to a great smile, such mistakes with tooth brushing has to be avoided at all.
Here are some of common tooth brushing mistakes and tips to avoid them –
- Not brushing the teeth twice daily
Most of us do brush once we get in the morning. We know the breath is stinking and the teeth need cleaning, so we go about the job without any motivation. However, not many do follow the schedule of brushing twice a day, or not many do brush before hitting the bed. This is surprising given how dentists all over the world extol the virtues of brushing two-times every day. If you can, brushing after every meal can also help you a lot in maintaining superior oral hygiene. So, don’t skip brushing at night else you may end up with poor oral hygiene.
- Not using a right toothbrush
Choosing a right toothbrush is essential for realizing the goal of oral hygiene. A right toothbrush means one that is capable of brushing teeth and gums in the softest and gentles way manner. Soft-bristled toothbrushes are good are they don’t exert pressure on the enamel and gums. On the other hand, toothbrushes with stiffer bristles may be harsh on the tooth, and might contribute in enamel erosion over a period of time. Electronic toothbrushes are recommended in cases where regular or manual ones fail to reach all areas of the teeth and provide through cleaning.
- Using a toothbrush for too long
Many among us do this mistake where we go on using the same toothbrush for months. This is wrong, and can harm the health of your teeth in a big away. When we don’t change the toothbrush, it means frayed and worn-out bristles are allowed to affect our teeth, and lead to enamel erosion in a gradual manner. Such brushes even fail to clean the teeth properly and thus, the risks of bacteria growth and plaque buildup continue to remain there. The right strategy is to change your toothbrush after every three months and maintaining optimum dental health.
- Not brushing at least two minutes each session
A proper brushing session should last between two to three minutes. Anything below the two-minute mark signifies lack of standard care to your teeth. This is precisely what most of us do, as we either rush through the brushing, or clean in a haphazard manner without worrying about the consequences. Similarly, over-brushing could lead to sore gums and might weaken the enamel in a gradual manner. Even the two-minute you spend brushing the teeth should be used cleaning all areas in a gentle and through manner.
- Not using a toothpaste with fluoride
Many of us think that choosing any toothbrush can do the job and help us maintain superior oral health. We are not right, because dentists recommend us to use the one containing fluoride. Such toothpaste provide protection against dental cavity apart from replenishing tooth enamel which can get eroded with regular brushing. In the same way, one should avoid rinsing the mouth with water after brushing their teeth else all the benefits of fluoride are washed away. For that reason, dentists advise using mouthwash instead of water to clean and rinse the mouth after brushing.
- Not using right brushing technique
Not all of us know the right technique for brushing. So, naturally, we would make mistake. We would brush randomly hoping that it will clean properly. This is far from the truth as not using the correct technique is akin to compromising with your dental health. The right away to brushing is in circles, not going back and forth. Being gentle and through with circular motions can help clean all areas of the teeth, even the gaps between, for a complete cleaning. This is what you should look at.
- Not flossing after brushing
Brushing alone can’t clean the teeth properly and completely. There will be food particles and plaque stuck between the teeth which only flossing can take out. For that reason, people should floss the teeth right after brushing so that nothing gets left between the teeth or in the mouth to cause oral problems in future. You can thus clearly see how dental care is more than just brushing once and you should follow these rules and visit your dental clinic to maintain superior oral health.