Common Brushing Mistakes and How to Fix Them

YOU KNOW THE DRILL - brush your teeth twice a day. Hopefully it’s a habit by now, but it’s also important to make sure we’re not just going through the motions. There is a wrong way to do it, after all, which could be resulting in mediocre cleanliness and even damaged gums. So let’s get back to basics and review proper brushing technique!

What To Avoid When Brushing Your Teeth
One of the biggest mistakes people make is being too forceful when cleaning their teeth. It’s important to remember that we need to brush smarter, not harder. Brushes with overly stiff bristles can have this same enamel-eroding effect. Aside from that, it’s a good idea to mix it up when it comes to the teeth we start on each time we brush. That way, you won’t be giving special attention to some parts of the mouth and not enough to others. By the same token, avoid brushing only vertically or horizontally and use circular motions instead, ensuring that no spaces between teeth are left susceptible to plaque buildup or tooth decay.  

Brushing Your Teeth The Right Way
You guessed it, the first step in the right direction is brushing twice a day for two-minute sessions. Play music, count, set a timer - whatever gets the job done! And quality is just as crucial as quantity. The often neglected gum line should be the focus, with your brush coming in at a 45 degree angle and moving in circular patterns over the entire surface area of each tooth. And, since it can harbor bacteria that cause bigger issues than mere bad breath, make sure to brush your tongue to round out your routine. 

Perhaps a lesser known aspect of brushing is the effect that food has on our teeth after we eat. Enamel actually becomes softer as a result of the acidic pH post-meal, caused by a combination of the acids that are contained in food and existing oral bacteria. Giving your teeth thirty minutes to neutralize after eating ensures that our enamel stays intact and not brushed away with all of the bad stuff.

Your Dentist Is Your Greatest Resource
The final tip we have for successful brushing is to ask questions! We are here to help. Send us a message, stop by, or read my book, Dentistry That Doesn’t Bite, our newest resource to set patients up for a bright future in their dental health and beyond.  (Click here to order a complimentary copy of the book.)

Happy brushing!