Twelve avoidable tooth brushing mistakes you make during your mouth hygiene routine may be wearing your teeth out and causing bad breath. Are you brushing your teeth right? You are likely to give an affirmative answer to this question. However, since brushing your teeth is second nature to you; you don’t question whether you do it at the right time, or the right way. Not to worry, 12 avoidable tooth brushing mistakes you make is a must-read if you desire a spring clean healthy set of teeth and fresh breath around the clock.
Brushing less than 2 minutes
Get out the stopwatch: Your brush time may be shorter than you think. Dental health professionals recommend that you brush a minimum of two minutes each time to remove a decent amount of plaque. If you have devices in your mouth, like braces, a bridge, or implants, add extra time to gently clean around areas where food gets trapped.
Brushing only in the morning
It’s important to brush your teeth twice a day to remove bacteria and plaque. So just the normal morning routine is not enough. And just rinsing your mouth after you eat doesn’t cut it either. This is because there are still food particles on your teeth. And only brushing with toothpaste will get rid of it.
Brushing instantly after a meal
If you brush right after you eat, you may wear down your enamel too fast. This is because your mouth becomes slightly acidic 20 to 30 minutes after you eat thereby weakening your enamel. This creates room for bacteria to set in causing more cavities and infection. The right thing to do is wait at least 30 minutes after you eat to brush. But if you can’t wait that long, rinse with water or use mouthwash to neutralize the acid.
Excluding the roof of the mouth and gums
Most times, you forget to clean around your gums and the roof of your mouth. At least to keep mouth odor at bay, gently swipe your toothbrush around your upper and lower gums. Then do the same for the roof of your mouth.
Not brushing chewing surfaces of the teeth
Brushing only the surfaces of your teeth is not enough. You need to go further to clean the inner surfaces and the tops or chewing surfaces as well. For better access, try using your left hand to brush the right side of your mouth and your right hand to brush the left side.
Forgetting to floss
No matter how perfectly you brush, if you don’t floss between your teeth, you miss plenty of plaque that can cause cavities and gum disease. A plaque gives off an acid that eats away at your teeth and can harden into tartar which can be scraped away by a dentist.
Not cleaning your tongue
Your tongue is the floor of your mouth. It’s a setup area for bacteria that causes bad breath, tooth and gum decay. So use your toothbrush to brush from back to front a few times after you brush. A tongue scraper is also ideal for this purpose.
Brushing with too much force
The most effective way to clean your teeth is by repetition, not force. This is because vigorous brushing wears down your enamel and causes a recession. Or causes shrinkage in the tissue that connects your gums to your mouth.
Using too much toothpaste
Toothpaste doesn’t have to cover the bristles of your toothbrush. You only need a pea-sized amount or half the length of a standard toothbrush. The fluoride in toothpaste is a mineral, hence too much of it can change the shape and structure of your teeth.
Not storing your brush well
If you don’t store your brush well, you risk bacteria growth on it. Therefore in order to keep your toothbrush clean and bacteria-free, rinse it after use, and store it brush-up where it can air dry. Don’t let your toothbrush touch other toothbrushes. Also, don’t cover it or store it in a moist environment.
Overusing your toothbrush
Keeping your toothbrush far too long allows the bristles to wear out because the lifespan of a toothbrush is about 3 to 4 months. After that, the bristles become worn out and don’t clean your teeth well.
Only brushing your front teeth
Brushing your front teeth is the last of the 12 avoidable tooth brushing mistakes you make. It’s also the most spontaneous thing you do. When you pick up your toothbrush for your morning teeth cleaning, you often start with the front teeth. It’s the easiest because you access them without stress. Similarly, your front teeth are most visible to people. However the tops and backs of your teeth, that is the part that faces inside your mouth, are just as vulnerable to bacteria that live in your mouth.
https://www.everydayhealth.com/hs/dental-health-guide/tools-for-better-smile/
Photo credit: Creative Commons
Abiola is the founder of Indulge™ group of companies, a healthy-living focused group. A passionate believer in a healthy lifestyle, living in the United Kingdom made it easy for her to pursue a health and fitness regime. She is the Managing Director/CEO of Indulge Nigeria Limited and Indulge Cares Nigeria Limited, both companies promoting the benefits of a healthy lifestyle for the prevention of illnesses and diseases. Abiola is available on https://www.indulgeinhealthyliving.com/
