Are you making these common tooth brushing mistakes? Take a proactive approach to your dental health with these helpful tips.
More than 90% of people will experience dental decay at least once in their lifetime. Although this figure makes it seem like oral health problems are inevitable, developing a healthy brushing routine actually helps prevent the development and progression of cavities and decay. Establishing a beneficial oral care routine and improving your dental hygiene is as simple as knowing what common brushing mistakes to avoid. If you are making these mistakes, you can get your dental hygiene back on track with these helpful tips.
- Using the Wrong Toothbrush
With so many different toothbrush configurations on the market today, it can be tough to know which one to pick. You must choose a toothbrush with correctly sized bristles in the right angle to hit all of your tooth and gum surfaces. Avoid damaging your tooth enamel by always selecting a toothbrush with soft bristles. If you are having trouble selecting a good toothbrush, ask your dentist for a recommendation.
- Skipping Fluoride Toothpaste
When you select toothpaste without fluoride, you clean your teeth without strengthening the enamel. Fluoride promotes remineralization to help build up your enamel, so it can shield your inner tooth structure from decay and cavities. Acidic waste from bacteria is less damaging to teeth strengthened by regular applications of fluoride. Drinking water from the tap that has already been treated with fluoride can also help boost your oral health.
- Beginning in the Same Spot
Although you should brush your teeth at the same time each day to create a habit that sticks, you should not follow the same path during your brushing sessions. Starting in the same spot in your mouth each time can cause you to miss plaque-ridden areas between your teeth. Alternate your starting location and pathway each time your brush your teeth to thoroughly work the bristles around each nook and cranny.
- Utilizing a Subpar Technique
A subpar brushing technique can leave plaque deposits along the gum line and between your teeth. Your toothbrush bristles cannot reach into these small crevices while moving in an up and down or side to side motion. To ensure you hit all of your tooth and gum surfaces, try using small circular brushing strokes.
- Pressing Way Too Hard
Although your tooth enamel shields the inner dentin and pulp from harmful bacteria, it is susceptible to damage from your toothbrush bristles if you press too hard. You do not need to press hard and scrub your teeth to remove daily plaque deposits. When you brush daily, the plaque does not have a chance to harden, so it is relatively easy to remove with gentle strokes of your toothbrush.
- Missing Your Gums
Dental plaque accumulates beneath the gum line as food particles fill the periodontal pockets around your teeth. You must extend your brush strokes across your entire gum line to work the food particles out of these pockets. If plaque deposits accumulate in these pockets, gum disease will develop and worsen. Gum disease causes these pockets to deepen as the tissue along your gum line recedes. To prevent this issue, make an effort to thoroughly but gently brush your gums during every brushing session. Using mouthwash after brushing can also help clean out the pockets in your gums.
- Rushing the Process
Rushing through your brushing routine will take a toll on your oral health over the years. When you miss spots, you leave plaque deposits that end up calcifying, or turning into a cement-like substance, on the surface of your teeth. If left in place, the plaque increases your risk of tooth decay and cavities. To adequately remove plaque, you must evenly brush your teeth for two to three minutes twice a day.
If you are concerned about your dental hygiene, contact at Arkansas Family Dental today at 501.683.8886 to schedule an appointment.
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