There's a proper way to brush teeth. Brushing your teeth the wrong way can do harm. While brushing has been a routine of yours since you were a kid, you may never have learned the proper way to both protect and benefit your oral health. The following are common mistakes when brushing teeth.
- Scrubbing so hard - If you brush so hard, your enamel can easily be damaged and it will cause gums to recede. You may also scratch your gums and bleed. So when brushing your teeth, just apply gentle pressure and small brush strokes.
- Using toothbrush with hard bristles - Always opt for soft bristled toothbrush when buying a new set from your local grocery store. Bristles must be able to bend to clean under the gum line.
- Using toothbrush longer than 3 months - You must change your toothbrush at least every 3 months. Many dentists say that a new toothbrush is 90% more effective than a 3-month old one.
- Missing a section of your teeth - You should brush the front, back, top and side of your teeth. People usually skip the inside surface because they are out of sight. But plaque do buildup on this sites even though you don't instantly see them.
- Not brushing long enough - Proper brushing requires 2 full minutes to properly clean the entire teeth. 40% of dental plaque can be removed when can manage to brush for 2 minutes. Remaining plaques can be removed during your professional dental cleaning which recommended to be done twice a year.
For more preventative dental care tips, contact Oyster Point Dentistry.
