6 Most Common Brushing Mistakes To Avoid

January 3, 2018

As simple as it sounds, not many of us have mastered the art of proper brushing. Improper teeth brushing for a long time will affect the enamel of your teeth, the gums leading to undesirable pain and cavities.

Let us learn how to brush properly by correcting these mistakes.

Brushing Just Once A Day

The ideal dentist recommendation is to brush your teeth two times a day. And the best time to do that would be right after you get up from the bed and right before you go to sleep. By this, we can stir up any bacteria and prevent plaque.

Brushing After Every Meal Or Even More

Too much is never too good.

Brushing more than two times a day or frequently using a mouthwash causes irritation to the gums. Over Brushing can wear down the enamel of your the teeth as well as damage and push back the gums, exposing the sensitive root area leading to the problem of sensitivity.

If you feel the urge to clean your mouth after a meal, rinse it thoroughly with water.

Brushing Back And Forth

This is the most common mistake—brushing horizontally from left to right.

Continuous horizontal brushing will lead to teeth sensitivity. Like we said, brushing is an art. To start off, place your toothbrush with the bristles angled 45 degrees at the gum line which is between your teeth and gums. Now make small circles with the brush head in an up-and-down motion.

This does all the magic and cleans perfectly.

Flossing After Brushing

Flossing is easily skipped by many due to the tedious task it is. Or even if it is done, it is usually done after brushing. The main reason to floss is to remove the tiny food particles hidden in deep impenetrable places between your teeth.

So, it is best that you floss before you brush to enjoy the best pay-off.

Choosing The Hard Way

Walking into a supermarket and choosing your favourite colour toothbrush is not where it stops.

Make sure your brush has soft bristles. The hard bristle brush does not remove plaque, instead, it will hurt your gum and make it even worse. A toothbrush with a small head and soft bristles will be more effective in treating a plaque.

Brushing Harsh For Too Long

Do not show all your energy on the toothbrush. Brushing too hard will lead to gum bleeding.

Always use a soft bristle toothbrush to brush gently in smooth and circular motions for a quality time of three to five minutes and not more. After you’ve cleaned your teeth use the bristles to clean your tongue, and again, don’t press it too hard or you might damage the tissue.

If you still have any irritation in your mouth or any doubts regarding your brushing habits and confused over choosing your ideal dental products, contact your dentist today.

Dr.Sridhar Internationl Dental Hospitals