Not all brushing is good brushing. When it comes to your teeth, and your oral hygiene in general, the more attention you give your mouth, the better. But some of your tooth brushing habits can be detrimental to your teeth, gums and overall oral health. Here’s five mistakes you may be making while brushing. And if you’ve got anymore questions about oral health, or want to schedule a free consultation, visit us at moderndentistry.com/appointment
- Brushing Too Hard: This is one of the most common mistakes when brushing. While a good scrubbing may lift stains around the home, you need to take a more delicate approach when it comes to your teeth. Gentle, small circles is all that’s needed to remove plaque from your teeth. If you’ve got tougher stains that won’t be lifted from brushing alone, schedule a visit with your dentist.
- Brushing Immediately After Eating: Most people assume it’s best to brush right after having a sugary snack. The problem is that those snacks are usually acidic, which weakens the enamel. Instead, have a glass of water to wash away some of that sugar. And if you do planning on brushing, wait 30 minutes after snacking.
- Not Paying Attention to All Your Teeth: Sometimes it’s easy to focus on your front teeth, ignoring the ones in the back. But remember to brush all your teeth (and gums too) evenly to ensure you’ve removed as much plaque as possible.
- Forgetting to Rinse after You Brush: Brushing dislodges food particles in your teeth that cause plaque and rinsing removes them from your mouth. Make sure to always rinse after you brush.
- Not Brushing Long Enough: Another of the most common brushing mistakes. We know as well as anyone that brushing isn’t exactly the most exciting thing, but make sure to spend roughly two minutes each time you brush.