The Most Common Tooth Brushing Mistakes

While you may initially think that brushing your teeth is a simple task, this isn’t necessarily the case. There are a huge number of issues that can come with your oral hygiene, simply because of the way that you brush your teeth. Here, we’re taking a look at some of the most common tooth brushing mistakes that you can make and how you can ensure that your dental care is where it should be.

tooth brushing mistakes

Stiffness Of The Bristles

If you’re brushing with a hard brush, yet are suffering bleeding gums or have damaged teeth already, you might actually be doing much more harm to your teeth than you may have first thought.

There are a huge number of ways that bristles can damage your gums and your teeth, from leaving your gums red, swollen and irritated, to actually causing harm to the protective layers on your teeth. If you have sensitive gums then it is crucial that you switch your hard-bristled toothbrush to a soft or extra-soft bristled toothbrush.

The Type Of Toothbrush You Use

While stiffness of the bristles is one of the major tooth-brushing mistakes, the type of toothbrush you use may also cause an issue. Using electric toothbrushes can help to control the way that you brush your teeth, the length of time you brush for and also how aggressive you are with your tooth brushing.

However, electrical toothbrushes can be expensive and while there are a huge number of different options on the market, if you are sticking to a traditional toothbrush, the shape of it can have an impact too. Make sure that you speak to your dentist to ensure that you are getting the most out of your toothbrushes, and have the right match for your dental care requirements.

Skipping inner tooth surfaces

While your front teeth are what are seen the most, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t forget the rest of your mouth. Molars and the inner surfaces of your teeth can be neglected by rushing brushers, or just by people who simply forget.

The lower front teeth and other areas where your tongue pushes against your teeth can build up plaque very quickly, so it is important that you ensure you are always brushing every inch of every tooth.

Neglecting The Tongue

Forgetting to brush your tongue can have a serious impact on your oral hygiene. There’s a lot of bacteria that can sit on your tongue, and this can be the main cause of halitosis (bad breath).

It is important that you don’t forget to clean your tongue in order to ensure that your oral hygiene is up to scratch. There are some toothbrushes that have special surfaces designed to clean your tongue, and you can even purchase a tongue scraper if necessary.

Cleaning Your Teeth Too Often

There’s a reason why it is recommended that you clean your teeth two-three times a day, and overbrushes can be causing a lot more damage to their teeth than they might think.

Damaging the enamel can lead you to have sensitive teeth, and can also cause them to start yellowing. Ensuring that you stick to the recommend brushing patterns that your dentist gives you is important to maintain good oral hygiene.