3 Mistakes You May Make When Brushing

From a very young age, you've been told how important it is to brush your teeth, but you may not have been taught how to brush properly. Aside from not brushing two times every day, many people make simple mistakes that they are not even aware of. These three things could be the difference between maintaining good and bad oral health.

Brushing Too Quickly

It doesn't matter how many times a day you brush your teeth if all you are doing is brushing for half a minute before you move on. Every tooth in your mouth needs attention, and you need to take your time when brushing to ensure it gets done. It's a good idea to brush your teeth between 2-3 minutes, so that all your teeth get cleaned.

One way you can do this is by using a timer, and you don't stop brushing until it goes off. You can also get an electric toothbrush that is on a timer as well. Some even beep to tell you that it's time to move onto a different area of your mouth.

Not Brushing Against Your Gumline

Dentists say you need to brush your teeth, but you actually need to be brushing your gums as well. The area of your gums where they meet the teeth is a place where bacteria and plaque can easily become stuck throughout the day. If you are keeping your brush above the gumline and just focusing on the teeth, you will be ignoring all of that bacteria and plaque that have gathered.

When brushing, you need to have the toothbrush partially over your gumline. This will stimulate the gums and get all of the bacteria and plaque that are hidden inside them.

Not Replacing Your Toothbrush

Your dentist gives you a new toothbrush every 6 months during your cleaning, but you should actually be replacing your toothbrush more often than that. The American Dental Association recommends that you replace a toothbrush after 3-4 months of use, or when you notice that bristles are in bad condition. The reason is because your toothbrush can retain bacteria found in your mouth that you removed from brushing. It will build up over time, and you will essentially be putting it right back in your mouth when you brush your teeth.

These are just a few mistakes that can be made when brushing. For more tips, speak to your dentist. Contact a business, such as Treasured Smiles Dentistry, for more information.   


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