Yes! we make mistakes in brushing our teeth. Brushing is not only about spreading your toothpaste on your toothbrush and moving it on your teeth. It takes a lot of techniques to make sure your teeth are clean and you have good refreshing breath. Probably your teeth are not clean as it is supposed to be because of these mistakes. Let us take a look at them and how to correct them;
1. USING THE WRONG TOOTHBRUSH (HARD BRISTLE TOOTHBRUSH)
A lot of times, people think that the hardness and firmness of your brush determines how clean your teeth will be after brushing. Meanwhile, it is the motion of your brushing that determines how clean your teeth will be. If the bristles are too firm, they can hurt your teeth. It can also result in loss of enamel and gum bleeding. When selecting a toothbrush, go for the ones with soft or extra soft bristles.
2. NOT BRUSHING LONG ENOUGH
The recommended minutes to use for brushing your teeth is not less than 2 minutes. Brushing for 2 or more minutes will help properly clean your teeth and remove all food and plaque.
3. NOT CHANGING YOUR BRUSH OFTEN
I have seen a lot of people using their brushes for that long until the bristles are frayed or the brush is broken. Dentists recommend that individuals ought to change their brushes every 3 months. You do not have to wait till your brush gets misplaced or the bristle fray before you change it.
4. RINSING YOUR MOUTH WITH WATER AFTER BRUSHING
You may have been rinsing your mouth with water after brushing since you were a kid but that is definitely not the best way. When you rinse your mouth with water after brushing, you cause the fluoride from your toothpaste to be inefficient. You can spit the toothpaste out but do not rinse your mouth. If you are not comfortable that way, use mouthwash or mouth rinse that contain fluoride but not water.
5. STORAGE OF YOUR TOOTHBRUSH IN THE BATHROOM
We may all be guilty of storing our toothbrush in the bathroom where our toilet is located. This is unadvisable because when you flush your faeces, the contents and microorganisms of your toilet bowl are sprayed in all directions of your bathroom. Covering the head of the brush with a lid can help reduce this but it is safer when you keep it in your medicine cabinet or somewhere away from your water closet.
6. NOT CLEANING YOUR TONGUE
A lot of people brush their teeth properly but one thing they forget is to clean their tongue as well. It is necessary to always clean your tongue because the tongue is a receptacle for bacteria and often the cause of bad breath in your mouth. Use a tongue scrapper or the back of your toothbrush to clean your tongue to help reduce the number of germs and improve your breath.
7. NOT FLOSSING
While this may seem not to be a brushing mistake, it is a big one for your oral hygiene. Flossing is an effective way to remove plague between the teeth, where your toothbrush could not reach. Plague that is not removed through brushing and flossing turns into hard calcified deposits (tartar) on your teeth. Take your time to use dental floss to floss your teeth daily and make it a habit.
8. WRONG BRUSHING TECHNIQUE
The most common brushing technique many people use is the "straight and across" technique. This technique is popular but that is one of the ineffective brushing techniques and should be avoided. The correct way is to brush your teeth in circular motions. This motion is more gentle and effective at cleaning the gaps between the teeth, Also, the best angle for the most effective way to clean is to hold your brush at a 45 degree angle and make circular motion. That, I can assure you that it is the most effective brushing technique.
9. USING A LARGE AMOUNT OF TOOTHPASTE
It is interesting to know that a lot of people take large amount of toothpaste when brushing whilst a smaller amount of the toothpaste would actually work. What happens to the rest? Wasted! When brushing, take a smaller amount like that of a peanut, and that is enough to make your teeth clean and your breath fresh.
10. NOT BRUSHING TWICE DAILY
Brushing in the morning is good but it is important to brush before going to bed as well. Brushing in the night can help reduce bacteria growth and prevent plaque and tartar formation. It can also improve your breath.
Brushing your teeth is necessary for our health and that is why it is important to know ways you can brush your teeth effectively and prevent any brushing mistake. Thank you my cherished reader, for making it to this far. If you have any question on this article, kindly comment and I will get to you once I receive it. Do not forget to share to others.
Very educational
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