10 Mistakes To Avoid While Brushing Teeth

One of the most attractive traits a person can have is a beautiful smile. But teeth are vulnerable to germs, plaque and yellowing, which not just destroys the beauty of the smile but also lowers down a person’s confidence. And needless to say that most people do not take care of their teeth in the manner that they should!

Unless you’re a dentist, you probably don’t realize that you are committing a sin as far as your teeth are concerned. I’m willing to wager that you are making at least one or more of these mistakes.

#1 Using Your Toothbrush For Too Long

When a toothbrush is used twice a day, the average lifespan of a toothbrush is entitled to be about three months. After about every 200 uses or so, there is a requirement to switch your brush because the bristles are expected to be worn out and frayed.

After a brush has been used for a couple of months, bacteria and food particles start to settle on the finer areas of the toothbrush. Ensure that you replace your toothbrush every three months.

#2. Not Brushing Your Teeth Long Enough

On an average a tooth brushing session should be around two minutes. However, when we consider the actual brushing time, it is ONLY about forty five seconds. The fluoride in any toothpaste requires a minimum time of two minutes to attach to your tooth enamel. Electronic toothbrushes with timers are excellent to ensure that you brush for two minutes. Use any method you find suitable, to ensure that you brush your teeth for two minutes.

#3 Rinsing Your Mouth After Brushing Teeth

Quite contrary to the common belief, you should not rinse your mouth with water after you have brushed your teeth. You can spit the toothpaste out, but when the water enters the mix, it reduces the efficiency of the fluoride content in the toothpaste.

#4 Storing Your Toothbrush In The Bathroom

A recent study showed that more than half of the population keep their tooth brushes in the bathroom due to which they all have bits of human faeces on them. When you flush your toilet after using it, the contents of the toilet bowl in the bathroom are scattered in random directions, leading to its settling on toothbrushes.

#5 Not Using Dental Floss

Flossing is a habit which each and every one must have. Flossing has to be done at least once a day in order to remove plaque between your teeth. This is to ensure that the floss reaches where the brush cannot. Plaque if not removed by the regular process of brushing can turn into hard calcified deposits that form on your teeth.

 Flossing at the end of the day is beneficial. Getting started is the hardest thing. Start with a tooth, then go to the next and the next.

Flossing wires individually work way better for me than a long cord of flossing wire.

#6 You’re Not Cleaning Your Tongue

Cleaning your tongue regularly prevents bad breath and removes bacteria. A tongue cleaner not just scrapes off the residual bacteria off your tongue but also gives you a fresh breath. If you don’t want to use a separate tongue cleaner, you can always get a toothbrush that has a tongue scraper attached to it.

#7 Using A Hard Bristle Toothbrush

Extra hard bristles can hurt your gums rather than cleaning your teeth effectively. Prefer soft or extra soft bristles. A brush is needed only to dislodge food particles that are stuck in between your teeth. You’re not looking for something that will shine them to a buff.

#8 Using Incorrect Brushing Technique And Motion

The correct way to brush your teeth is when the motion in circles – don’t do the back and forth motion. Circular motions are gentler by nature and more effective at cleaning the gaps between the teeth.

Make sure that the toothbrush is in contact with both the teeth as well as the gum line. Try a lighter touch, and don’t press down too hard. Wide strokes when applied side-to-side can scrape off the soft tissue lining between the teeth and the gums.

#9 Brushing Teeth At The Wrong Angle

Holding the brush at an angle of 45 degree is the best technique and move the brush in short circular strokes. According to survey, that’s the angle for the most effective clean.

#10 Not Changing Your Teeth Brushing Routine

While brushing, we generally go straight on auto pilot. We end up using the brush on the same areas by habit and tend to forget some other.

When you have to use an electric toothbrush, all you have to just have to guide it and it reaches out better to those hard-to-reach places in your mouth with less effort.