Most people are taught the importance of good dental hygiene from a young age. In fact, your mother may have even started putting a toothbrush in your mouth before you even had teeth! Taking care of your teeth is important, not only for keeping your smile looking great your entire life, but good dental habits can also prevent gum disease and contribute to your overall health.

If you religiously brush your teeth every day, that’s great — you’re one step closer to keeping your teeth bright and white. But, are you brushing the right way, at the right time, and with the right toothbrush? The way you brush actually has just as big of an impact on your health as just committing to brushing twice a day. In fact, there are several things you may be doing that are actually causing more harm than good. In today’s blog from Primary Dental. Your local Wheat Ridge dentist, we’re going to discuss eight bad brushing habits you should break right now to prevent additional problems and get the most benefit from brushing. Keep reading to learn more.

Using the Wrong Toothbrush

How do you shop for a new toothbrush? Do you choose your toothbrush based on color? Or maybe you’ve always chosen a hard-bristled brush because you think that it does a better job of scrubbing away plaque. The fact is, the American Dental Association recommends using a soft-bristle brush on your teeth. Using one with hard bristles can remove the enamel on your teeth and damage delicate gums.

Brushing Too Hard

For the same reasons why you should always use a soft-bristled brush, you should also take care to not brush your teeth too hard. Brushing your teeth shouldn’t be like scrubbing dirty pots and pans with a scouring sponge — the purpose is to gently remove buildup and dislodge food particles that are stuck between your teeth. Brushing too hard, just like using a hard-bristle brush, can damage your teeth and gums.

Keeping Your Toothbrush For Too Long

You probably have more important things on your mind than remembering to change out your toothbrush, but keeping the same one for too long isn’t a good thing. Over months of continuous use, the bristles can start to become frayed and worn out and when that happens, they won’t be as effective at cleaning your teeth. Keep in mind that bacteria can also accumulate on your toothbrush over time so after a few months of use, it’s a good idea to switch it out for a new one. Most dentists recommend getting a new toothbrush (or toothbrush head, if you use an electric toothbrush) about once every three months.

Storing Your Toothbrush Improperly

Have you ever thought about how you store your toothbrush? If you’re like most people, it’s probably the farthest thing from your mind. Unfortunately, if you’re storing your toothbrush improperly, you could be subjecting yourself to lots of harmful bacteria.

Most people brush their teeth in the bathroom, which in itself isn’t the issue. Where the problem occurs is when you store your toothbrush next to the sink — which may also be next to the toilet. Every time you flush the toilet without closing the lid first, it sprays tiny droplets in all directions. And, if your toothbrush is stored in the vicinity, those tiny droplets are landing on it.

Another thing to consider is how you store your toothbrush — do you place it head-down in the cup you use to rinse? If so, that cup is likely wet or at least moist from the water you put in it and from the water dripping off of your brush. Keeping your toothbrush in this damp environment doesn’t allow it to fully dry and make it more prone to mold and bacterial growth.

Not Brushing Long Enough

Do you set a timer every time you brush? Probably not. If you’re like most people, you probably spend 45 seconds or less brushing your teeth. Unfortunately, experts agree that brushing for less than the recommended time of two minutes could leave your teeth only “half brushed” with food particles and residue still remaining on them.

The next time you brush your teeth try setting a timer or watch the clock to see just how long two minutes feels like. After some practice, you’ll get used to brushing your teeth for the right amount of time and you’ll likely have better dental checkups because of it.

Not Flossing

Brushing your teeth is only part of the equation when it comes to good dental hygiene. If you’re brushing but skipping out on flossing, you’re setting yourself up for an increased risk of cavities and gum disease. You should always aim to floss at least once per day. This is necessary to get the plaque and food particles in the tough-to-reach areas where your brush can’t reach.

Brushing Too Often

This one might surprise you, but did you know that it’s actually bad for your teeth if you brush them too often? This seems to go against common sense — after all, if brushing your teeth is good for oral hygiene then you should aim to brush as often as possible, right? Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. Brushing more than the recommended twice per day can prematurely wear away the enamel on your teeth and possibly even hurt your gums. If you happen to eat a particularly sugary treat in the middle of the day it’s ok to brush a third time every once in a while, you just don’t want to make a habit of it. Stick to twice a day whenever possible for a mouthful of happy, healthy teeth.

Brushing Right After a Meal

If sugar and food particles stuck on your teeth are the fuel for cavity-causing bacteria, then it would make sense that you would want to brush your teeth as soon as possible after a meal. Unfortunately, this is another example of when the “obvious” answer isn’t necessarily the right one.

If you’ve just finished up a meal that contained something acidic — like soda or citrus fruit — the pH levels in your mouth drop. If you brush your teeth right away, you could actually be rubbing these acids all over the surface of your teeth causing damage to the enamel. That’s why it’s best to wait at least 60 minutes after eating to brush. It gives your mouth enough time to naturally counteract the acids in your mouth, making it safe to brush.

Let Primary Dental in Wheat Ridge Help Keep Your Teeth Healthy

Good brushing habits and regular dental checkups will go a long way in keeping a healthy smile. If you’re looking for a Wheat Ridge dentist who offers a wide range of services for the entire family, we invite you to check out Primary Dental. From preventive care and restorative care to orthodontics and cosmetic dentistry, we’re here to help keep your teeth and gums healthy and looking great for decades to come.

Visit our website to learn more about our dental services or contact our dental office and speak to one of our friendly staff members to request an appointment.

Eight Bad Brushing Habits You Should Break Right Now