The act of brushing your teeth becomes second nature by the time you’re an adult. You’ll typically learn at a very early age that it’s something you need to do every morning and night to keep your teeth healthy. You’re probably so used to the task of teeth brushing by the time you’re grown up that it becomes something you really don’t actively think about anymore. The problem with this is that you could end up falling into habits you think are fine but aren’t actually great for your teeth. In order to avoid these habits and make sure you’re taking care of your oral health the right way, we’ve come up with 5 myths about teeth brushing you should stop believing:
1. The harder you brush (and the harder the bristles) the better.
It’s a fairly common misconception that a “good brushing” means a “hard brushing.” You may think that the harder you brush, the more effective you’ll be at getting food and bacteria out. The truth is that a gentle brushing is much better for your gums and enamel, for too much pressure can cause damage. In a similar vein, soft-bristled brushes are much better suited for your teeth than hard-bristled brushes. In general, a good rule of thumb for teeth brushing is that gentle is better.
2. A minute is enough time spent brushing your teeth.
People often think that any amount of time brushing is better than no time brushing. While that may be true, the recommended amount of time you should spend brushing your teeth is actually a full two minutes. The average time most people actually dedicate to the task? 45 seconds. Next time you brush, try setting a timer to get a feel for how long you should really be brushing.
3. The best way to brush your teeth is at a 180-degree angle with a back and forth motion.
If you picture someone brushing their teeth, are they holding their toothbrush straight across and moving it from left to right? This is the often the image many people have of proper teeth brushing, yet it’s the wrong one. When it comes to the angle, you should really be tilting your toothbrush 45 degrees to the gum line instead of 180. Once you have the right angle, brush up and down (not side to side) in small, circular motions.
4. You should keep your toothbrush in a closed container.
Some people believe the proper way to store a toothbrush is to keep it covered. This, however, is the wrong idea. It’s best to avoid keeping a cap/cover case on the head of your toothbrush; this is because a closed container like a toothbrush cap produces a wet environment, which encourages the growth of germs. The best way to store your toothbrush is to keep it upright and leave it out in the open to dry.
5. You can never brush enough.
Every now and then you’ll meet someone who’s so dedicated to their dental health that they brush after every meal. While you may look at that person as being a teeth-brushing paragon, they’re actually hurting their teeth instead of helping them. Surprisingly enough, too much brushing can wear on your teeth and an excess amount of toothpaste can actually damage enamel. Your best bet to healthy teeth? Just stick to brushing twice a day.
At Artistic Dental, we understand that our patients might have made mistakes or done the “wrong thing” when it comes to their dental health. We’re here to help! If you need guidance about the right way to take care of your teeth, you can schedule a consultation or contact our office at (602) 840 – 5400.