If you’re like most, you probably think teeth-cleaning is easy. That’s only natural – brushing and flossing usually seem simple. However, getting clean chompers is often tricky. There are a wide range of mistakes you might make in the process. Left untended, these errors will raise your risk of cavities and gum disease. Still, your Temple dentist can help you out a bit. Here are four common teeth-cleaning mistakes and how best to avoid them.
You Rush Your Brushing
When you’re in a hurry, it’s tempting to rush through your brushing. That said, this habit won’t do you any favors. Your grin will stay dirty if you don’t brush your teeth long enough.
You see, dentists suggest that you brush for two minutes per session. That’s the time needed to remove the plaque and bacteria on your smile. So, only going for a minute (or even less) just won’t cut it. To compensate, consider setting a timer or listening to music while you brush.
You Rarely Replace Your Toothbrush
As trusty as they are, don’t let yourself think toothbrushes last forever. They eventually wear down from constant use. When you don’t replace them regularly, they harm your smile.
Remember, a toothbrush uses bristles to clean your pearly whites. These barbs fray and gather harmful bacteria over time. Therefore, failing to replace a brush head leads to ineffective brushing. Instead, you should switch to a new toothbrush every 3-4 months for proper oral care.
You Don’t Floss
Many people see flossing as a boring chore. As such, you may think skipping this practice is okay. The truth, though, is that the idea is risky. Going without floss may well ruin your smile.
In reality, your toothbrush can’t clean your teeth enough on its own. It’ll miss some hard-to-reach places in your mouth. For that reason, you should floss between your teeth once daily. Doing so will eliminate the bacteria leftover from your brushing.
You Ignore Your Gumline
When brushing your teeth, maybe you just focus on your enamel. After all, that’s the part of your mouth you want stain-free. Unfortunately, this approach is a costly mistake. Ignoring your gumline can cause oral issues.
To be honest, bad bacteria tend to gather near the gumline. You’ll be at greater risk of gum disease if you don’t clean it. Luckily, you can remedy this fault. Just remember to brush the area where your teeth meet your gums.
As you’d expect, common teeth-cleaning mistakes are simple but severe. Make sure to fight against them in the future!
About the Author
Dr. Richard Fossum is your resident dentist here in Temple, TX. Since earning his dental doctorate, he’s been helping patients’ smiles for nearly thirty years. As such, his expertise includes preventive, cosmetic, and restorative work, as well as emergency dentistry. You’re sure to get a dreamy grin with the help of him and his team! Today, Dr. Fossum practices at his self-titled clinic and is reachable on his website and by phone at (254)-778-3900.