6 MOST COMMON BRUSHING MISTAKES TO AVOID
In our daily lives, we often take for granted simple tasks like cleaning our teeth. According to The American Dental Association, 23% of Americans have gone two or more days without brushing their teeth. And for adults between 18 to 24 years, that number is 37%.
Every morning, you brush your teeth. It may be one of our first tasks of the day, but its also a chore were likely to put off. Brushing our teeth is a mundane activity. But what is mundane is never trivial. We could be doing it wrong, and it could be ruining our teeth. Brushing our teeth is essential to our oral health, and not something we want to skip. The struggle is not won by just cleaning your teeth. We also need to make sure were brushing correctly. If we go about it the wrong way, we may end up doing more harm than good.
Are You Brushing Your Teeth Correctly
You may think that your oral care routine is perfect, but the fact is, it could be flawed. According to dentists, the average individual makes many errors when cleaning their teeth due to laziness or a lack of knowledge. These errors become so ingrained over time that they are challenging to overcome. In fact, individuals start presuming that their method is the proper way. So, to avoid oral health problems ahead in the future, here are six typical mistakes to avoid when cleaning your teeth.
6 Most Common Brushing Mistakes To Avoid
1. Not Using The Right Toothbrush
How can you decide from a dizzying collection of brushes at your neighborhood supermarket?
Dentists advise that your toothbrush should reach all the necessary areas. Either a manual or a power toothbrush is acceptable. The one thing that is quite crucial is that it should have soft bristles. The bristles need to be able to flex to reach and clean under the gums. The bristles should remove microorganisms and loosen plaque from your teeth and gums. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that can induce gum disease and tooth decay. More so than harsh bristles, soft bristles clean very efficiently. Harsh bristles can harm the structure of your tooth. Being the best dental care clinic in New Jersey, we suggest you find the right toothbrush as per your teeth. Additionally, you should look for the seal of approval from the American Dental Association on your new toothbrush.
2. Not Brushing Long Enough
It is perhaps the most frequent error and also the simplest to fix. Twice daily, you should clean your teeth for two minutes. It is simple to develop the habit of only brushing for a brief period, especially in the morning when you are hurrying. Most people only clean their teeth for half the recommended time each day.
For the fluoride in your toothpaste to bind to the tooth enamel, you must brush for at least two minutes. Setting a timer on your phone is the most effective technique to force yourself to brush for the needed two minutes. Additionally, there are electric toothbrushes available that buzz every 30 seconds to assist you. Any less than that, and youre not getting all the plaque and bacteria off your teeth.
Bacteria form a sticky film on your teeth called plaque. If you dont brush long enough, the plaque turns into tartar, which is harder to remove and starts to eat away at your tooth enamel. Cavities could be caused because of this. Brushing twice a day for two minutes can help prevent cavities, gum disease, and bad breath.
3. Brushing Too Hard
Brushing harder doesnt always mean brushing better. Brushing too hard can also damage your gums and teeth. You need to use gentle strokes when brushing.
People attempt to brush their teeth too vigorously. You dont need to clean the plaque because it is soft and loose. Instead of scrubbing your teeth, you need to massage them. Apart from this, you miss out on the region of contact between your tooth and gum. Its the site where bacteria congregate frequently and you should clean it too.
It turns out that cleaning your teeth requires covering the entire tooth, or at least anything that your brush can reach, including the area just beneath the gums. We dont clean the gum line and instead spend more time on the chewing surface.
One of the most frequent mistakes is not brushing the gum line. Adapt the angle. In most cases, you should be holding the brush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line so that the bristles reach the gum line. Next, use rolling up-and-down strokes to finish the tooth. The interior of your front teeth may be reached by tilting the brush up and down. Also, remember to brush your tongue to get rid of the bacteria deposited.
Everybody cleans the visible outer portion of their teeth. Additionally, everyone washes their teeth. But what about the inside of the tongue? Its simple to notice whether someone has neglected to wash their teeth on the tongue side, due to an inflammatory gum line.
4. Not Flossing
Flossing is just as important as brushing. Be sure to floss at least once a day to remove plaque and bacteria from between your teeth. Not flossing can lead to gum disease, tooth decay, and bad breath. Tooth decay is the breakdown of the tooth enamel due to acids produced by bacteria in plaque. Cavities can be caused by tooth decay. Symptoms of tooth decay include tooth sensitivity, pain, and visible holes in the teeth.
It might be tempting to sprint to the bathroom for brushing as soon as you finish a meal to get rid of the leftovers. But you might want to take a small step back. Youre applying abrasives when the acid is already present in your mouth, which helps the acid wear down your teeth. So, wait for at least 10-15 minutes. That gives your mouths saliva enough time to neutralize the acid before you plunge in. Before brushing, also make sure to rinse your mouth with water to remove some of the acids.
5. Using Old Toothbrush
When you find a good toothbrush, its sometimes difficult to get rid of it. However, its time to throw away the toothbrush when you notice bristle changes, such as when they are discolored, bent, or dirty-looking.
If the bristles get frayed, it loses their effectiveness. So, change it out at least every three to four months. If not, you will have worse outcomes, that will affect your teeth. Additionally, keep your toothbrush in the open air to prevent mold or bacteria from growing on it when its wet. Before the three-month point, if your toothbrush begins to scatter, it may indicate that you are brushing incorrectly or with too much effort.
6. Persistent Use Of Anti-Sensitivity/Whitening Toothpaste
Using a medicated toothpaste designed to cover sensitivity for an extended length of time is a typical mistake. Because the main ingredient in such toothpaste is for treating sensitivity or lightening tooth color, engaging in such a practice conceals the symptom but does not address the underlying cause. It also increases your risk of developing cavities, gum disease, and bad breath.
To avoid any potential harm to your teeth, sensitive toothpaste should only be used for a specified amount of time. Whereas, whitening toothpaste should only be used under close supervision. Use a toothpaste that has fluoride to protect your teeth from decay and gel-based components with antibacterial characteristics to prevent gum disease and foul breath. If youre looking for an affordable dentist in New Jersey, reach out to us.
Tips To Improve Your Oral Health
Dental care is important to your overall health and well-being. People often dont want to go to the dentist because they get anxious and stressed out. But theres no reason to be nervous. We are an affordable and cheap family dentist New Jersey. Also, there are many things you can do to help improve your oral health, and here are some of our best tips.
1. Do not brush immediately
According to one research, participants who waited between 30 and 60 minutes before brushing their teeth after consuming something had less tooth wear than those who brushed right away. Acidic meals and beverages, or those with a low pH, cause the enamel of teeth to weaken temporarily. When you brush your teeth immediately after eating or drinking, you risk removing part of the enamel, which will make them more vulnerable to decay in the long run. Delaying brushing after consuming citrus fruits, juices, tomatoes, soda, or alcohol is the right way to go.
2. Add chewing gum and mouthwash to your routine
You might think that twice-daily brushing and flossing are plenty. But following up with an antibacterial and antiseptic mouthwash will destroy more oral germs, helping in the fight against plaque. Swish your mouth aggressively for 30 seconds twice a day after brushing and flossing. Another suggestion is to chew gum. Sugar-free gum promotes salivary flow, which bathes the teeth in calcium and phosphate ions that help restore tooth enamel, and can help decrease the number of germs in your mouth.
3. Stay away from drinking sugary drinks
While you should restrict the number of sugary drinks in your diet, its best to consume them all at once rather than sips of soda, sweet tea, or coffee with sugar and cream throughout the day. Cavities develop when you expose your mouth to sugar regularly because certain bacteria utilize it as food and break it down into lactic acid, which starts to destroy the minerals in your teeth.
4. Embrace foods that whiten teeth
Some meals may indeed keep your teeth looking, well, white. Celery, cucumbers, apples, pears, carrots, and other fibrous, raw vegetables help clean tooth surfaces and eliminate some plaque buildup that can cause teeth to appear yellow. Additionally, because eating these crunchy meals takes longer, saliva production is stimulated. Saliva aids in neutralizing acids that might damage teeth.
5. Clean the toothbrush holder
When was the last time you thoroughly cleaned the toothbrush container? According to a National Sanitation Foundation study, toothbrush holders rank third among the dirtiest home goods. Not only does it keep your brush in place, but it also keeps many of the bacteria that live in your bathroom. So, clean your toothbrush by washing it in hot, soapy water before wiping it off with a disinfectant wipe once or twice a week.
The above tips will help you to take care of your oral health so that your teeth remain healthy for the longest. However, if youre looking for an emergency dentist in New Jersey, we are here to take care of all your needs.
Best Dentist in New Jersey
If you have been cleaning your teeth with the wrong technique, it might be a reason for existing or potential dental problems. Hence, it is essential to consult with your dental professional, if you have been experiencing problems such as toothache, or sensitivity. If you are looking for a top rated dentist in New Jersey, visit us at Jackson Dental.
At Jackson Dental, we make sure that you feel comfortable. We understand that dental appointments may cause anxiety. We talk you through the whole process and assist you at every step so that dental appointments dont feel overwhelming. From your routine dental consultation to getting your teeth cleaned, and from teeth whitening procedures to getting cheap dentures in New Jersey, we are a one-stop solution for all your dental care needs.
Conclusion
Practicing poor dental care is something that millions of people dont realize until it affects their oral health. Hence its important to know the right techniques to take care of your teeth properly. Through appropriate care and preventive measures, your teeth would be in the best of health. Consult with the best family dentist in New Jersey. Book your appointment with us today!