The morning-evening ritual of brushing your teeth is well known to us since childhood. However, dentists note that the technique of brushing teeth in many people requires adjustment. If a person does not know how to properly brush their teeth, they are in danger: instead of a beautiful smile, a person gets gum disease and / or caries as a “reward”, and then begins to torment himself with the question “Well, what am I doing wrong.”
To prevent such troubles, we will tell you about the mistakes that people often make when brushing their teeth.
1. Insufficient brushing time
Dentists recommend brushing your teeth for 2-3 minutes, so the next time you brush your teeth, be sure to check how long this procedure takes for you. To do this, at first you can use a regular timer, for example, on a mobile phone, or you can purchase an electric toothbrush with a built-in timer. But it’s true, sometimes we are in such a hurry to work or quickly bury our face in the most beloved pillow in the world, which we missed so much all day, leaving only a minute or less to take care of our teeth.
2. Insufficient control of the brushing process
Teach yourself to look in the mirror and follow the path of the toothbrush. The fact is that it is easy to miss a very important area on the gum line, but it is in it that the greatest amount of bacteria and plaque accumulate, which accumulate and lead to inflammation and infection of the gums (gingivitis). Also keep a close eye on the large back molars.
If the brush hits your cheek before it reaches those teeth, you can skip them altogether! Plus, the more attention you pay to your teeth, the more likely you are to notice problems in time, such as cracks, abrasions or indentations caused by teeth grinding during sleep. Also, a worn tooth surface can signal problems of the temporomandibular joint or sleep apnea. Be sure to tell your dentist about your observations.
3. Imperfect brushing technique
Enamel consists of tightly fitting glassy twigs covering the surface of the tooth. During brushing from side to side, these fragile twigs can crumble, leading to cracking and weakening of the teeth. Hold the brush so that the bristles are at a 45 degree angle to the surface of the teeth and brush in small circles.
Focus on a few teeth first, then move on to the next pair, continuing in circular motions from side to side, up and down, front and back. Chewing surfaces can be brushed in a straight line. After completing such a “circular cleaning” brush away plaque and bacteria from the gum line with a toothbrush.
4. Brushing your teeth too hard
The likelihood of damage to the enamel with strong brushing of the teeth increases significantly. If a person has a habit of clenching their jaws or grinding their teeth, the likelihood of enamel damage is doubled or tripled. These unhealthy habits, combined with brushing too hard, cause cavities near the gum line, called abfraction lesions. With constant pressure, they can go deep into the inner dentin and cementum of the tooth. What's more, brushing too hard can damage the gums, causing irritation and tissue recession.
5. Wrong toothbrush
Soft toothbrushes cause minimal damage to teeth. However, dentists warn that even soft toothbrushes can damage teeth if used incorrectly. There are even toothbrushes that use ultrasonic pulses that kill bacteria without brushing your teeth! Your toothbrush can be a real home for bacteria, incl. streptococci and staphylococci. Therefore, it must be changed every three months and sooner if you notice that the bristles of the brush are worn and bent. To reduce the growth of bacteria on your toothbrush, rinse it with hot water and dry it completely.
6. Incorrectly selected toothpaste
Baking soda toothpastes are good for removing stains because they are abrasive, but that is why they are bad for enamel. So think about whether you need it. As for non-abrasive toothpastes, they do not harm the teeth.
7. Improper flossing
Dental floss cleans the spaces between teeth where the toothbrush cannot reach. Caries is mainly formed on the contact surfaces of two teeth. Bacteria stay in these places and feed on sugar from food particles, form colonies and produce chemicals that corrode the enamel and can destroy the soft layer of dentin underneath.
Read: "How to choose the right floss"
This leads to carious decay of the tooth. Simply put, dental floss – it is not just an addition to dentifrices, dental floss – this is one of the best ways to deal with bacterial colonies that form between teeth. How to floss properly: Wind the floss around your thumb and forefinger and gently clean between your teeth. Wrap the floss around the tooth and move it up and down to remove plaque.
8. Neglect of mouthwash
Effective brushing and flossing remove bacterial plaque from teeth. Rinse is the key to removing these bacteria from the mouth. It is advisable to use an alcohol-free mouthwash that kills bacteria. A fluoride mouthwash will help strengthen tooth enamel and protect against cavities. If you do not have a mouthwash, remember that a thorough rinse with water – it's better than none at all.
We hope that the information in this article will help you brush your teeth more effectively. Estet-portal.com invites you to familiarize yourself with the method of professional teeth cleaning:
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