You Could Be Making One Of These Toothbrushing Mistakes

You might be doing a good job of brushing your teeth regularly, but did you know that there are actually a number of things you could be doing wrong? When it comes to brushing your teeth, a number of factors can affect how well your teeth are getting cleaned. To help you improve the way you brush your teeth, we’re outlining 3 common mistakes that many people make when brushing their teeth. Here they are:

Mistake #1: Not brushing consistently or long enough. Not brushing consistently will lead to plaque build-up and overall poor oral health. It’s important to get into a familiar routine of brushing your teeth. Not brushing your teeth long enough can also lead to poor oral health. The act of brushing your teeth isn’t enough. You need to work hard to reach all parts of your teeth, and brush for at least two minutes.

Mistake #2: Skipping your inner tooth surfaces. According to WebMD.com, “most people forget to brush the inner surfaces of teeth – the surface that your tongue presses against” (Source). Brushing these surfaces of your teeth is an extremely important part of keeping your mouth healthy. To get better at remembering to brush these areas of your teeth, section off your teeth into quadrants when you brush them—and make your inner teeth one of your quadrants.

Mistake #3. Not changing your toothbrush often enough, or not rinsing it after you brush. It’s easy to forget to change out your toothbrush regularly, but it’s extremely important. In order to keep your teeth, mouth, and gums healthy, you should be replacing your toothbrush every three to four months. It’s also important to rinse your toothbrush after you get done brushing. If you don’t rinse your brush, chances are you’re putting old bacteria from the last time you brushed back into your mouth.

We hope that by reading about these common mistakes, you will become more aware of the mistakes you might be making when brushing your teeth.

To learn more about how to take better care of your teeth, contact us today!