06Dec
9 Toothbrushing Mistakes — and How to Fix Them
- Choose the Right Tool
- The size of your brush plays an important role to proper oral health care. It should feel good in your mouth and in your hand, so you’ll use it often.
- Know your bristles, too. If they’re really stiff, they can hurt your gums. A soft brush is best
- Electric or manual? It’s an individual choice. Electric toothbrushes can make it easier to do a better job, especially if you have arthritis or other trouble with your hands, arms, or shoulders
- Give It Time
- Are you brushing enough? Twice a day is recommended
- It should take at least 2 minutes each time. We suggest dividing your mouth into four sections and spend 30 seconds on each
- Some electric toothbrushes have built-in timers
- Don’t Overdo It
- Brushing more than three times a day might not be ideal because too much can wear down your teeth’s outer shell, called enamel, and damage your gums
- Use a lighter touch when brushing. If you use an electric brush, let the bristles do the work and just guide the toothbrush
- Be gentle. It doesn’t take a lot of force to remove plaque
- Perfect Your Technique
- Hold your brush at a 45-degree angle to your gums, and make an up-and-down motion
- Use short strokes
- Brush outer and inner tooth surfaces, back molars, and your tongue
- And, don’t forget about those hard-to-reach areas
- Switch Things Up
- Do you always begin in the same place? Dentists say most of us do. Start in a different place so that you don’t get lazy. Stay aware of what you’re doing
- Pick Products Wisely
- The kind of toothpaste you use matters
- The ones that brighten or control tartar can be harsh. An increase in whitening particles can be harmful and sand away tooth structure.
- Go back to plain old fluoride toothpaste. If you want to lighten your smile, you can always switch between whitening toothpaste and regular.
- Control Your Sour Tooth
- Energy drinks, diet sodas, and sour candies — even healthy things like apple juice, orange juice, and coffee — have acid that can soften tooth enamel. If you drink these beverages, wait half an hour before you brush. That gives your saliva time to restore tooth enamel
- Avoid ‘Potty Mouth’
- Most of us store our brushes in the bathroom — not the cleanest place in the house
- To keep yours tidy, stand it up in a holder. If you leave it on the counter, you could expose it to germs from your toilet or sink.
- Don’t let two brushes touch if they’re stored together
- Air dry your toothbrush– a moist brush is more likely to grow bacteria
- Use a cover that lets air in when you travel
- Let It Go
- How old is your brush? You should get a new one every 3 or 4 months
- Also, give it the eye test. Once the bristles lose their normal flexibility and start to break apart, change your toothbrush. Frayed or broken bristles won’t clean as well
- Change your toothbrush after being sick
If you can’t decide which toothbrush to buy, ask your dentist which kind is best.