Brushing your teeth every day is an essential daily habit when it comes to oral health. Brushing your teeth properly keeps your breath fresh and prevents gum disease and gingivitis.
However, there are “bad” ways to brush your teeth. Here are some things you might be doing incorrectly without even realizing they are bad habits.
“Bad” Ways to Brush Your Teeth
Brushing your teeth is always better than skipping it, but here are some ways you might be causing harm to yourself.
Harder isn’t better. Be gentle when brushing your teeth. You should use only as much pressure as you would on a ripe tomato. If the force you’re using on your teeth and gums would break the skin of ripe fruit, you’re brushing too hard. We all think that the more pressure we use, the cleaner something gets. Unfortunately, that doesn’t hold true with our teeth. The plaque on our teeth is loose and soft, so it comes off easily without forceful brushing.
Choose the best toothbrush. Since we don’t need to scrub really hard when we brush our teeth, that means we also don’t need to use a hard-bristled toothbrush. A soft toothbrush is best for everyone. Soft, bendable bristles get down into your gum line and really get your mouth clean. Hard bristles will wear down your tooth structure. Also, pay attention to the size of the toothbrush head. If it’s too big for your mouth, or too small, you won’t get optimum cleaning power.
You aren’t brushing long enough. We know a watched pot never boils, and it seems like a toothbrushing routine never ends when you’re watching the clock. However, many people aren’t brushing long enough, especially when they’re in a hurry to get to bed or running late for work. You should be brushing your teeth for a full two minutes. You can set a timer on your phone or listen to one song while you brush. Some electric toothbrushes even come with a built-in timer.
Massage, don’t brush. As you start brushing your teeth, begin in the back. Don’t scrub up and down, in and out, or all around. Instead, think of your toothbrush as a gum massager. Slow and steady wins the best smile award. If you’re massaging instead of brushing and doing this for a full two minutes at least twice a day, you can be sure you’re getting your mouth as clean as possible. Don’t forget to floss twice a day, either.
If you want some more tips or to schedule a cleaning, call us today at 317-745-4400. We can’t wait to make your smile great.
Disclaimer: The information included in this article is for educational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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