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Yes, brushing your teeth is just one of those jobs that you need to tick off your daily routine, but more than providing you with minty fresh breath, you’re investing in the health of your pearly whites. Your teeth aren’t going to last forever, so make sure you get as much longevity out of them as possible. Here are some tooth brushing habits that need some serious reconsideration:
Not Brushing For Long Enough
Most professionals would recommend brushing your teeth for between 2 and 3 minutes, but most people just give them a quick once-over, before rushing off for work. Try setting up an egg timer for 2 minutes, so you know when to stop.
Not Watching What You’re Doing
Make sure that you cover every tooth by paying attention to what you’re doing. Missing out areas can lead to bacteria and plaque build-up. Stand in front of a mirror and actually look at yourself brushing your teeth. The benefit of this is that you’re more likely to notice if something is wrong with your chompers, such as chips or cracks.
Poor Technique
Poor technique can actually damage your teeth. Many people scrub horizontally, but this can cause serious harm to the surface, weakening your teeth. Focus on brushing in small circles and focus on one tooth at a time, top to bottom, and front to back. Before you finish, brush gently around your gum line, to clear away any loose plaque.
Brushing Too Hard
Brushing too hard can wear away your enamel, especially if you’ve been eating sour things recently (which softens up your teeth’s defence). Hard-brushing can also aggravate sensitive gums, causing severe irritation and receding problems. Some electronic brushes can tell you when you’re brushing too hard, but just go easy on the muscle-power. Also, choose a brush that’s soft.
No Rinsing
Even after brushing, bacteria can linger around the teeth. Dislodge and kill germs by rinsing out your mouth afterwards with a good mouthwash. You’ll also ensure better breath for the rest of the day!
Not Brushing Regularly Enough
Everyone knows that you should brush your teeth twice a day, but many people fail to even meet this basic requirement. No matter how tired you are, make sure that you brush your teeth before you sleep – you’ll feel much better for it in the morning. Ideally, you should brush your teeth three times a day, but this isn’t possible for most people, due to work restrictions. However, bear in mind that more than three times a day could be actively harmful, in the same way that brushing too hard can be.
Not Changing Your Toothbrush
After approximately 3 to 4 months, you should replace your toothbrush. When the bristles start to become inflexible and break apart, your toothbrush stops being effective. If you’re not sure which toothbrush will suit your teeth best, consult your dentist.
Leaving The Tap Running
Not so much a habit that will harm your teeth, but certainly one that will harm your wallet, leaving the tap running wastes massive amounts of water, over the space of a year. Online Pump Supplies showed just how impactful this is, in a UK survery. 35% of the population are guilty of this bad habit!
Leaving Your Toothbrush On The Side
Your bathroom isn’t always the cleanest room in the house, so leaving your toothbrush on the side can coat this oral cleaning tool in nasty bacteria – not great, when you consider that this is going into your mouth. Set-up a toothbrush holder to make sure you keep your brush clean.
You’re really right in saying that good technique is important. I’ve had a faithful teeth brushing habit for quite some time now, but my family dentist showed me how to brush properly a few years back. Like you said, I was brushing horizontally, but he encouraged me to go with a soft circular motion. I think it’s made a real difference! Thanks for the good article!