Two Surprise Mistakes People Make When Brushing Their Teeth
You’ve likely heard for years that in order to maintain good mouth health you have to brush your teeth, floss, use mouthwash and eat teeth friendly foods. Taking good care of your teeth will have lasting effects on many areas of your health, beyond just inside of your mouth. However, there are 2 things that you’ll probably be surprised to hear are big no no’s when it comes to brushing your teeth.
Two tooth brushing mistakes you might be making
At Reflections Dental Oakville, our dentists and staff are great at answering questions and giving advice. Never hesitate to ask and read more from our blog for even more tips!
Brushing your teeth every day may feel like a bit of a no-brainer. After all, as long as you’re brushing everyday with a soft bristled toothbrush, you have to be helping your teeth, right? While this is mostly true, there are 2 things that many people tend to do that can actually work against the work you’re putting in while brushing.
Mistake #1: Rinsing our mouth after brushing
This may feel a bit odd at first, but you actually shouldn’t rinse your mouth right after brushing your teeth! When you brush, your toothpaste works to clean plaque and debris off your teeth both with the help of your toothbrush, and after you’ve finished brushing.
Rinsing the toothpaste out of your mouth immediately can help prevent the fluoride that’s found in toothpaste from doing its job. Sure, it is able to work its magic while it is getting moved around with your toothbrush, but there are significant benefits to allowing it some time to strengthen your enamel even after you’ve finished brushing.
When you’re done brushing your teeth, spit the excess toothpaste as usual but wait about 30 minutes before you drink or rinse with water.
Although you may want to rinse with mouthwash instead of water, it’s still advised to wait at least 30 minutes after brushing. Mouthwash, while an important part of a mouth health routine, will also rinse away the beneficial effects of fluoride from your toothpaste.
Mistake #2: Don’t brush too many times a day
Brushing twice a day is an essential part of a great mouth health routine, but who would have guessed that brushing more than that could have detrimental effects?
While it’s ok to add in an extra brushing session here and there, sticking to a schedule of twice a day is the best way to ensure you keep your teeth in top form. Brushing too often can cause the enamel on your teeth to erode away and will irritate your gums, which can lead to increased sensitivity and tooth decay.
For the best mouth health routine, you want to brush once in the morning after waking up and once in the evening before going to bed. If you feel the urge to brush during the day, try reaching for some mouthwash to clean your mouth and teeth instead. Not only is mouthwash an important part of great oral health, your teeth will thank you for not brushing them more than you need to.
The best oral health routine
An excellent oral health routine centers on 3 main activities: brushing, flossing and eating tooth-friendly foods. Committing to brushing your teeth once every morning and evening, flossing once a day or after a bad meal and consuming food and drink that aren’t bad for your teeth will help ensure that your teeth stay healthy for many years to come.
Breaking bad habits isn’t easy
If you know that you have some bad habits when it comes to your oral care it might not be easy to curb them. Rather than trying to massively overhaul your routine overnight, try making one change each month. Before you know it, your mouth health routine will be in top shape! A visit to your dentist can also help you pinpoint any trouble areas and help you stay ahead of the game when it comes to your oral health. If you’re unsure about whether your tooth brushing routine is lacking, ask your dentist for their advice at your yearly visit.
