“What do I do wrong”? Thousands of people ask themselves before their appointment at the dentist. “I brush my teeth twice a day and still come to my dentist as regularly as if it was my job”. Are you one of these people? Do you believe that brushing your teeth twice a day keeps a doctor away?
We have a surprise for you: that’s far from being enough for a perfect smile. Here are 10 major mistakes that we make when brushing our teeth. We have also included the solutions of how to keep your smile healthy and beautiful for many years to come.
1.Press the toothbrush too hard
What is the problem if we do? The harder we press, the cleaner the teeth are. Wrong!
When we press the toothbrush too hard, its hairs bend and don’t remove tooth deposits properly. Additionally, it can lead to gum damage. Try not to be too pushy while cleaning your teeth. For that very reason also take into consideration that a softer toothbrush will be more effective. What is more: choose the one with a small head, which will be easier to reach all the corners of your mouth.
2.Don't pay attention to the food
We all know that eating too many sweet things can cause cavities. However, to keep our teeth healthy, we need to eat food that contains calcium phosphorus and fluorine. Here are some tips for you:
- Food contains calcium such as dairy products, fruits and vegetable skins, fish and beans.
- Food contains phosphorus such as fish, cereals, nuts and lentils.
Speaking about fluorine we usually receive the necessary everyday dose of fluorine with water. However, if you live in a region where the water has a low concentration of fluorine, you should eat more foods containing this element such as milk salt, etc.
3.Don't use additional tooth cleaning devices
4.Use water to rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth
It is shocking. When you use water after brushing your teeth, it removes all the useful fluoride received from toothpaste. It turns out that you’ve been making an effort a 3-minute brushing in vain. Instead of rinsing your mouth, just spit the toothpaste. You can use mouthwash. Try not to drink anything for about 30 minutes after brushing your teeth.
5.Don't take care of your gums
If you want to avoid dental problems overall, the health of your gums is vitally important. If your gums are weak and don’t have a great enough blood supply, it can lead to periodontitis. To make your gums stronger, you need to massage them with your toothbrush or finger with circular movements. Eat solid food and chew it thoroughly. You can also rinse your mouth with oak bark or sage teas or with a salt solution. If your gums started bleeding, visit a dental hygienist immediately.
6.Don't get our tooth tartar removed
Let’s first get some understanding: what is this?
Tooth tartar is the hardened product of minerals from saliva and foods that accumulate in plaque around the teeth. It has a yellowish-brown color and can’t be removed with a toothbrush. Dental plaque and tartar can cause periodontal disease including inflammation of bone surrounding the teeth. Tartar can become as hard as a rock and only a dentist or dental hygienist can remove it with special tools.
What to do to prevent this situation from happening? Have a hygienic cleaning procedure at least once a year. Your dentists can advise you on the proper frequency for your teeth condition.
7.We think we are too old for dental braces
A lot of people think they can make their teeth straight only during their teens. When they are adults, they are sure it is too late to wear dental braces. But that’s the wrong conclusion.
If you have a problem with snagged teeth, it can lead to cavities and decay. If you feel embarrassed to wear regular braces, you can always choose invisible lingual ones, which are placed on the backside of your teeth. Don’t hesitate to make an appointment with an orthodontist.
8.Chew only on one side of our mouth
Why is it so important? First of all, chewing has self-cleaning properties. If you chew food only on one side of your mouth, it can lead to cavities and decay on the side you don’t typically use. Apart from that chewing food on one side of the mouth causes thick and strong muscles on that side. This way the muscles on each side of the face will become asymmetric. Eventually, it can lead to pain and even hearing problems. Pay attention when eating. Try to chew your food on both sides of your mouth. Don’t forget to eat solid food such as fruits and vegetables, which will make your teeth stronger.
9.Keep our toothbrush in the bathroom
Lots of people make this mistake. Actually, the answer is simple – germs. If you share the bathroom with other people especially kids, you exchange germs in any case. What is worse is that if you flush the toilet, whatever was in the bowl is sprayed around in tiny splatters, which contaminates your toothbrush and you can imagine the outcome. A good idea is at least to cover your toothbrush with a lid. But better still keep it in your cabinet or nightstand and always close the lid of the toilet bowl before you flush.
10.Don't teach our kids to take care of their teeth properly
Some parents think there is no need to take proper care of milk teeth because they are temporary. But a child still needs to know what is right and what is wrong. The teeth will change. But the habit will stay.
The process of brushing teeth should last for at least three minutes and the brush should be moved up and down. The thing is that the enamel on children’s permanent teeth is not as strong as that of adults’ teeth. The grooves fissures on their grinding teeth are deeper, which is why the food particles are not so easy to brush away. Teach your children to brush their teeth carefully. Perhaps it’s worth taking the procedure of fissure sealing – a specific dental treatment intended to prevent tooth decay.
Do you have any other methods or tips? Share them in the comments!
