We’ve been brushing our own teeth since the age of two or so (probably still with some help from mum and dad) and we think we’re pretty expert at it, but could you be making one of these mistakes two or three times a day? Here are six common mistakes we make when brushing our teeth
Using a brush with excessively hard bristles
You might think that a brush with hard, scratchy bristles is what you need to show that plaque and those bacteria what for, but you’d be wrong. You actually need softer, flexible bristles as these are more effective at removing food particles, bugs and plaque, as well as getting under the gums without hurting you. Harder bristles don’t cover all the surfaces of your teeth because they tend to be further apart and they can also damage the enamel over time. If you visit a dentist in Dublin, they’ll tell you exactly this, so switch to soft.
You apply too much pressure
Again, this can damage your gums as well as wear away your enamel. Plaque is actually very easy to remove, so you don’t need to scrub like a maniac. Hold the brush very lightly and use it in a massaging motion, rather than a scrubbing movement, making sure you go over your gumline as well.
You hurry it along
Ideally, you should be brushing for two minutes – 30 seconds per quadrant. However, too many people rush and think they’re done in a minute or so. They’re not. Once in a while you can get away with it, but if it becomes a habit, then you’re not cleaning your teeth properly and it’ll catch up with you eventually. Use an egg-timer or play a favourite song that’s at least two minutes in length.
Get the angle right
Lots of us scrub back and forth with the brush parallel to the surface that’s being cleaned. This is OK for the top surfaces of the teeth, but when you’re doing the sides, you need to turn the brush so it’s at a 45-degree angle to the tooth so that it gets under the gumline.
You brush your teeth after eating or drinking something acidic
You’ve just eaten some fruit, or drunk some wine and you think you should brush your teeth immediately to prevent cavities. This is a major cause of acid erosion as the acids in foods and drinks temporarily dissolve the top layer of your enamel. If you brush your teeth within an hour of fruit juice, you’ll wear away the softened enamel and it won’t be replaced. Drink some water and chew some sugar-free gum to help to neutralise the acid and wait at least 30 minutes before brushing.
You forget your tongue side
It’s a common issue that dentists see – someone has otherwise good dental hygiene but they forget about the surfaces of the teeth on the tongue (or lingual) side. This lets bacteria run riot, forming plaque and then calculus. After a while, the calculus (AKA tartar) can start to invade below the gums and that’s when problems start.