You’ve been told, even at a young age, how important brush your teeth is, but are you doing it the right way?  We are going to go over some of the most common mistakes people make then caring for their oral hygiene. Do any of these apply to you?

Rinsing with water after brushing

Before applying toothpaste onto your toothbrush, you may rinse your tooth brush with water to clean it, so after brushing you may choose to rise your mouth with water after brushing to make your mouth feel cleaner, right? Wrong. Mixing water around our mouth after brushing will wash away the concentrated fluoride in the remaining toothpaste. This dilutes it and reduces its preventative effects. Using mouthwash can be a more beneficial alternative. 

Brushing for under 2 minutes

Measly brushing your teeth for a couple of seconds may leave a minty taste in your mouth but this doesn’t mean that your teeth are clean enough to be given the green light by the dentist. We recommend to brush your teeth for 2 minutes to ensure all areas of your smile are thoroughly cleansed. People may rush to brush if they are running late but this is no reason to regularly neglect your oral health. Brushing for 2 minutes, morning and night, will help to keep your smile looking pristine.

Brushing too hard for your teeth to handle

Brushing with a heavy hand will not leave your teeth cleaner. Aggressively brushing your teeth while using the wrong technique can cause wear to your teeth and can potentially cause your gums to recede. Aim the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle towards the gum line and gently brush in circular motions. This helps to push the gumline while also focusing the toothbrush on each induvial tooth.

Using an old toothbrush

How often do you change your toothbrush? once or twice a year? When using your toothbrush twice daily, the bristles become worn down, dirty and the brush start to lose its effectiveness. On average, you should be switching out your old toothbrush every 3 months to make sure that there is no possibility of your toothbrush causing you dental problems, halitosis or bad breath.

Now that you know of the common mistakes that you may have been making, you should be able to improve on your oral health and eventually notice a difference in your smile. Your mouth will feel fresh and your teeth will look cleaner than ever. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at Harwood Dental – you’ll be glad you did!