Brushing your teeth is an act that (hopefully) you do every day. Unfortunately, you may not be getting the most out your brushing because of bad form. We’ve compiled a list of common errors you may be making when you brush your teeth.
Error 1: Using the Wrong Style Brush
Medium and hard bristle brushes can be damaging to your gum tissue and weaken your teeth’s enamel. Soft bristle brushes are strong enough to get soft plaque, and they are much easier on your teeth and gums.
If your plaque has hardened into tartar, then traditional brushing won’t remove it. Come in to see your dentist for teeth cleaning twice a year to make sure that tartar doesn’t overbuild on your teeth.
Error 2: Brushing Back and Forth
Brushing back and forth is a common error when brushing your teeth. Think about massaging your teeth with your toothbrush. Circular motions are best and they have several benefits:
- A circular motion helps you get the entire surface of your teeth.
- A circular motion helps you get up under your gums, where a majority of plaque resides.
- A circular motion helps implement a systematic approach where you brush each tooth.
Don’t confuse a circular motion with just moving your toothbrush all over. A systematic approach is crucial to hitting the entire surface area of your teeth.
Error 3: Brushing Too Aggressively
Food particles and bacteria that reside on your teeth are generally fairly soft in nature. This means that aggressive brushing isn’t necessary to remove it. If you use an electric toothbrush, it is designed to do the work, applying too much pressure can be damaging to your teeth.
Aggressive brushing can wear away the enamel on your teeth and in extreme cases lead to gum erosion. Make sure you don’t hold your toothbrush too tight. Having a light grip on your toothbrush can help keep you from attacking your teeth with your brush.
Error 4: Not Brushing Long Enough
People only spend about 30 seconds on average brushing their teeth. That isn’t long enough. While there isn’t a number of seconds that is perfect, you need to spend enough time to brush the entire surface area of your teeth. Make sure you cover all your teeth with toothpaste and get your tongue and gums.
Using an electric toothbrush can be a great way to stay engaged when you brush your teeth. Today’s electric brushes can have settings that allow you to set a time to ensure you hit all your teeth.
Error 5: Brushing at the Improper Angle
A 45-degree angle is typically suggested when you brush your teeth. The benefit of that angle is that it allows you to hit your gums and your teeth. Varying your angle can also help hit all the spots on your front teeth.
Turning the brush flat to your teeth often means that you miss spots and leave bacteria and plaque on your teeth.
Brushing Your Teeth is Important to Your Oral Health
Brushing your teeth is crucial to your oral health. Brushing helps remove bacteria and plaque that comes from food. Make sure that you brush at least twice a day and schedule teeth cleanings with your dentist to remove plaque and tartar that has hardened. Let us know if we can help!
