Brushing your teeth is part of your daily routine. You brush in the morning. You brush before bed. Sometimes you brush after meals. The act of brushing has undoubtedly become automatic. having a brushing dedicated brushing routine is to be applauded, if you aren’t attentive about your brushing techniques then you could be doing your teeth, gums, and overall oral health a great disservice.
1. You brush too hard.
While it may seem that aggressive tooth brushing is good because it will whisk away plaque, food, and bacteria, a heavy hand can actually do a great deal of harm to your teeth, but especially to your gums. Vigorous tooth brushing is a major contributor to gum recession. When gum tissue is recessed, teeth can look longer than usual and the gum tissue is pulled away or worn away from the teeth. Recession leaves more of a tooth exposed and creates pockets that catch bacteria and plaque, which could lead to gum disease. If you are a naturally zealous brusher and have developed gum recession, the pinhole gum procedure is a minimally invasive treatment used to repair gums and restore oral health. In the meantime, use soft, short strokes to brush one tooth at a time. Gently wiggling the brush will prevent the buildup of plaque without damaging gums.
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2. You don’t brush long enough.
Along with brushing vigorously, you may also brush too quickly – the two acts naturally go hand in hand. But fast brushing done very hard is not as effective as measured, thorough brushing. Carefully going over each and every tooth in your mouth ensures that you have truly cleaned your teeth top to bottom and front to back. That two-minute timer on your child’s tooth brushing app or game? It’s there for a reason. Two minutes is the minimum amount of time it will take you to concentrate on brushing one tooth at a time. Don’t rely on your professional teeth whitening treatment to keep your teeth bright. Just because your teeth are white from bleaching does not mean they are free from decay. Do your part for the sake of your oral health.
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3. You don’t brush often enough.
Sure, sometimes you fall asleep early and forget to brush your teeth before bed. It happens. But ideally, if you wake up late in the morning, you still brush your teeth when you rise to at least rid your mouth of that yucky morning breath. You don’t want to make it a habit to skip the nighttime tooth brushing though. Think of all you’ve had to eat and drink throughout the day, the food that has gotten stuck between your teeth (even if it isn’t bothering you), and the plaque and bacteria that have built up. Brush your teeth at least twice a day. It’s the least you can do to protect the gateway to the rest of your body. This is one habit you won’t be able to lie about at your bi-annual dental exam and cleaning – your biomimetic dentist can tell when you are keeping up with cleaning your teeth. Take the time to protect yourself from tooth decay and much worse.
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4. You use an old toothbrush.
Your toothbrush should be replaced at least every three months. If it is wearing out sooner than that, replace the brush (but consider that you might be brushing too hard). A worn-out toothbrush head is damaging to the gums, not to mention a seriously gross environment for the build-up of bacteria. Old toothbrushes simply do not clean teeth well.
Making the smallest changes to your tooth brushing routine will have a powerful and positive impact on your oral health. If you have concerns about the condition of your teeth and gums, contact Moorestown Dental Professionals in Moorestown, NJ, to make an appointment.
