Mistakes To Avoid When Brushing Your Teeth

Optimising this basic, but essential, tooth care routine.

Modern dentistry can now do wonders to save and restore damaged teeth, and even to replace them using permanent methods such as dental implants. By and large though, much dental care revolves around the simple, yet important, act of brushing our teeth (and flossing as well, we hope!)

Whilst the vast majority of people do carry this out twice a day, it is not always the case that they do so as well as they could. In today’s blog, our Greenwich Confidental Clinic team take a look at some of the more common mistakes that people make when brushing their teeth.

Keeping a toothbrush too long

Ask yourself when was the last time you bought a new toothbrush, or changed the head on the electric one. If it was over three months ago, you need to change it. Using an ineffective brush is one of the more common mistakes that people make. Using a new one with bristles that aren’t worn out will make cleaning your teeth much more efficient.

Rushing it

We know that life can be busy, but cutting time out of brushing your teeth is asking for trouble. It is thought that, on average, we brush our teeth in the region of 45 seconds. This is a long way short of the recommended 2 minutes. Set a timer on your phone or play your favourite two minute song while you do it. You might be surprised at how long two minutes is and how far short of it you have been falling!

Brushing too hard

Especially if you aren’t happy with the colour of your teeth if they are stained or discoloured, you might be tempted to ‘scrub’ your teeth. This is unlikely to improve the colour and more likely to damage and weaken the enamel on your teeth. Ditch the hard bristled brush too. A gentle circular motion with reasonably soft bristles is all that is needed. If you aren’t happy with the colour of your teeth, please ask us about our convenient teeth whitening treatments.

Brushing after eating

When we eat, the enamel on our teeth starts to soften. Too many people brush their teeth shorty after eating, potentially causing further harm to the enamel. Wait at least half an hour before you brush your teeth after eating to allow the enamel time to recover and re-harden.

Toothbrush storage

You shouldn’t put your toothbrush in a case where it can stay moist. Especially in a warm environment like a bathroom, this is likely to increase the bacteria on your brush. Store it somewhere where air can get to it and dry it out. Also, make sure that it is stored well away from your toilet to prevent any airborne cross infection.

Flat brushing

If you simply brush your teeth flat to the surface of the enamel, you are limiting its cleaning capabilities. While you should brush the flat surface, you should also angle the brush approximately 45 degrees so that the bristles reach beneath the gum line where bacteria and food particles can collect. This will help to keep both teeth and gums clean and reduce the risk of gum disease.

This bedrock of good oral care is essential and you should make every attempt to do it as efficiently as possible. So please take a look at the commonly made mistakes above and ask yourself how you can improve your own teeth cleaning routine.

Both NHS and private dental appointments are available at the Confidental Clinic in Greenwich. You can contact us via our website or calling us on 020 8858 1422.