Consider yourself a fastidious brusher? Well, dentists have warned too much pressure and quick motions could be causing more harm than good.
There are reports that dentists are seeing a spike in patients presenting with gum problems from their electric toothbrush.
Dr Beeta Salek-Haddadi, a cosmetic dentist at Smile Solutions in London, said: “I’m seeing an increasing number of patients with abrasion cavities and gum problems after using these powerful electric gadgets in the wrong way.
“People are brushing too hard and fast with them and it’s causing damage.”
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Furthermore, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology says electric toothbrushes could permanently damage teeth enamel and gums, because most people don’t know how much pressure to apply.
Here are some other brushing mistakes we make when it comes to our teeth and why it could be causing bacteria build-up, tooth decay and other health-related nasties in your mouth:
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Text: bauersyndication.com.au / Additional reporting: Natalya Molok
Dentists say whether you go for a manual toothbrush or an electric one, it’s important for it to have soft bristles.
People tend to think that the harder the bristles are, the more they’ll clean but that’s not true. Soft bristles clean very effectively and hard bristles actually can wear down your tooth structure.
The size of your toothbrush’s head is important too, especially if you have a smaller mouth (i.e. children and women).
The brush head needs to be small enough to comfortably move around your mouth and get right under the line as this will enable it to remove bacteria and loosen plaque from your teeth and gums.
Don’t rush when you brush your teeth. Take your time to ensure that you’re really getting a good clean, and getting to those hard-to-reach areas like the back of your mouth so you can remove as much gunk as possible.
Set your phone timer for two minutes or better yet, play a song while you brush your teeth and when the tune is up, that’s when you know to stop brushing.
It’s a common brushing mistake to scrub back and forth when you are brushing your teeth. In fact, dentists say you can do damage to your tooth enamel this way.
Instead, they encourage people to go in little circular up-and-down motions and think massage, not scrubbing, when you brush.
Brushing doesn’t just mean brushing your teeth but also your gums. Bacteria likes to hang out in the area where your tooth meets your gum but we often miss this.
Try to angle your toothbrush at 45-degrees when brushing your gumline so that you can really get into this area and remove all the plaque and debris that often gets trapped there.
Don’t forget to brush your tongue, too, as that’ll get rid of the bacteria build-up in your mouth that contribute to bad breath.
Another reason to clean your tongue? Bacteria buildup on your tongue can spread to your teeth, causing gingivitis, or red, inflamed gums.
Think all kinds of toothpaste are created equal? Think again. It’s important for your toothpaste to have flouride it in, which will strengthen your tooth enamel and eliminate gum problems.
The all-new Sensodyne Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste has been clinically proven to relieve sensitivity and improve gum health. Its dual-action formula works to actively build a layer over sensitive areas to protect against sensitivity, whilst targeting and removing plaque bacteria that can cause swollen bleeding gums and other gum issues.
While most of us skip flossing some of the time (or almost always!) and think it does no harm, the experts beg to differ.
They say the combination of brushing and flossing lowers the risk of gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease in which your gums are irritated, red, and swollen.