6 Common Dental Hygiene Mistakes And How To Correct Them
Ever since you were young, your parents already taught you about the importance of oral care and how you must incorporate good dental habits into your daily routine. This is to ensure that your teeth will be safe from dental decay, gum diseases, and other oral health problems. Following good dental habits also keep your teeth in good shape, resulting in a beautiful smile and boosted self-confidence.
Some of these dental habits you must do include brushing your teeth, flossing, using mouthwash, and more. While all of these are known to help take care of your dental health, perhaps you’re unaware that you’re doing some of them in the wrong way. And when you perform these dental habits the wrong way, it can potentially damage your teeth and lead to severe dental health problems.
Thus, it’s vital that you’re aware of the common dental hygiene mistakes and see if you’re currently doing any of them. Once you figure out that you do, you can take precautionary steps to ensure you don’t do any of them again. For your reference, here are six common dental hygiene mistakes most people make and how to correct them.
1. Using The Wrong Toothbrush
Most of the time, the mistake starts with your choice of a toothbrush. Toothbrushes are available in different sizes, styles, and shapes. Perhaps you’ve been buying the wrong toothbrush randomly the entire time. You walk in on a store, pick a toothbrush with your favorite color, and purchase it immediately. However, that’s not how it’s supposed to be.
In picking your toothbrush, you need to be careful and make sure it’s suitable for your teeth, gums, and fits your needs. If you got a small mouth, it’s best if you also use a small toothbrush. A small toothbrush allows you to reach the hard areas of your mouth. If you have sensitive gums or teeth, opt for a toothbrush with soft bristles. A soft-bristled brush will prevent your gums and teeth from being easily damaged due to the force while brushing.
If you’re unsure what you need, don’t hesitate to contact your trusted dentist, such as https://www.thevillagedentalcenter.com/, and they will be the ones who’ll recommend you a specific toothbrush.
2. Teeth Brushing Right After A Meal
Dentists always remind their patients to brush their teeth every after a meal. This ensures that all the food particles that were stuck in between your teeth will be removed. When left between your teeth for a long time, these food particles will lead to tartar buildup and tooth decay. But even if your dentist did recommend you this habit, they actually don’t mean that you should brush your teeth immediately after your meal.
Dentists suggest that you only brush your teeth around 45 to 60 minutes after your meal because the sugar and acids from the food you ate can weaken your teeth enamel temporarily. Once you brush your teeth right away, the more it will wear down your teeth enamel. The abrasive materials from your toothpaste and the food acids will damage your teeth as soon as they are combined.
So, wait out first before you brush. If you really need to brush due to an important event or meeting, you can rinse your mouth with water several times to remove some of that acid as an alternative.
3. Brushing Too Quickly Or At A Very Short Time
Even if you’re using the right toothbrush and brushing your teeth at the right time, doing the task too quickly will only put your effort to waste. Unfortunately, many people out there still brush their teeth as if they’re in a marathon, racing through the process. Doing so won’t get the job done, which means all the tartar, food particles, and other debris won’t be removed, leading to oral health problems in the future.
Thus, you should spend at least full two minutes brushing your teeth. Take your time to reach every corner of your tooth, especially the back molar teeth. Brushing your teeth hastily may also lead to ignoring the other parts of your mouth, putting you at risk for gum diseases, bad breath, and tooth decay. So, don’t forget to include your tongue and gums during the process.
4. Brushing Too Aggressively
Some people believe that the harder brushing and scrubbing they do with their teeth, the cleaner and the better it will be. Unfortunately, that’s only a myth. Scrubbing and brushing too hard will only lead to gum recession and enamel abrasion, therefore weakening your teeth. Moreover, it will also result in your teeth and gums becoming more sensitive and easily bleed.
When brushing your teeth, make sure you scrub them gently using a soft-bristled toothbrush. It’s also ideal to use an electric toothbrush with a pressure indicator for a more controlled brushing.
5. Brushing At The Same Starting Point
Another common dental hygiene mistake that most people commit is brushing their teeth at the same starting point. The thing about this habit is that you don’t even realize you’re doing it. Most often, you start brushing at the front center part of your teeth, and you constantly focus on this area too. The problem with this habit is some parts of your teeth aren’t getting enough attention, which means you may not brush and scrub the other parts properly.
So, as much as possible, be mindful of your brushing technique, make sure you put the same scrubbing effort, and spend equal time on every part and corner of your teeth. For your reference, you can look up the proper way of brushing your teeth to guide you about the proper motion you must follow.
6. Refusing To Floss
Part of what your parents taught you during your younger years is flossing your teeth. However, as some people grow up, they tend to leave flossing out of the routine and only do the brushing. This may be because some people find it challenging to floss their teeth, or it can be a bit more time-consuming compared to brushing. Meanwhile, others also avoid flossing their teeth because of bleeding.
However, bleeding gums due to flossing is a sign of unhealthy gums and bad oral hygiene, which all the more means you must floss your teeth. Neglected gums are known to bleed easily when triggered or touch. So, try to incorporate flossing into your oral care, even if it sometimes bleeds. Try doing it for a whole straight week and see if you notice any progress or improvements with your gums. If bleeding is still persistent and matched with mouth pain, don’t hesitate to visit your dentist for an oral checkup.
The Bottom Line
Admittedly, many people still commit dental hygiene mistakes unknowingly. So, if you want to ensure you’re taking good care of your dental health the proper way, make sure to take note of these things and follow the steps to avoid making the same mistakes again. Also, talk to your dentist for more advice on how to properly take care of your dental health. For more information, don’t hesitate to visit https://www.
