Common Tooth Brushing Mistakes

tooth brushing

Have you been brushing your teeth the right way?  There are many bad tooth brushing habits that you might have developed over the years without even knowing.  Next time you brush your teeth, take a moment and think about how you’re brushing.  Here are some common mistakes:

Rushing the brush: Not brushing long enough

You might be rushing your brush without even realizing it.  Brushing for too short of a time means your teeth don’t get as clean as they should be.  You should be brushing your teeth for at least 2 minutes, but 3 is even better.  You might want to set a timer to see how long you’re spending brushing your teeth.  Many electric toothbrushes also shut off automatically after the appropriate time has elapsed, which is another great way to make sure you don’t rush the brush.

Ouch!  Brushing too hard

You might be bearing down on your brush and brushing too hard.  If you’re brushing too hard you can irritate and even damage your gums as well as erode bits of your enamel.  Ease up on your brush and remember you want to softly brush your teeth, not aggressively scrub them. Try holding your toothbrush at the end, rather than gripping with your fist.  It will force you to brush more gently.  Think of plaque being the consistency of mayonnaise; it doesn’t take much pressure to remove it, when done regularly!

Using the wrong bristle strength

There are a few different tooth brush bristle strengths on the market, so you have to find the right one for you.  Soft bristles are always the way to go. If the bristles are too hard or brittle, they can damage your teeth and irritate your gums.  You should also replace your toothbrush every 3 months or when the bristles get distorted (whichever happens first).

Using the wrong toothpaste

You might be using the wrong toothpaste for your teeth.  There are plenty of toothpastes available on the market, so make sure you’re using the one that is right for you.  You can look at our previous post on toothpaste or ask us next time you’re here.

Not rinsing after you brush

Do you rinse after you brush your teeth?  You might use a mouth wash for your teeth, but do you rinse your toothbrush?  The bacteria you just cleaned off your teeth can stay on your toothbrush unless you rinse it after you finish brushing.

If you have any questions or concerns about your tooth brushing activities, please let us know.  We’ll answer your questions and make sure you’re taking care of your teeth the best you can.

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