You might have probably heard several times that smile represents one’s personality. It definitely is! Your face, including your smile, is one of the attributes immediately noted by people you meet. And the key to make an impression with a good smile is to maintain a good oral hygiene. To ensure just that, have a look at the common oral hygiene mistakes explained by oral surgeons in Sydney.
1. Aggressive Brushing
It is indeed necessary to apply a bit of pressure while brushing your teeth, so that plaque and other food particles shall be removed for good. But that doesn’t mean that brushing too hard can clean your teeth better. Aggressive brushing habits can cause toothbrush abrasion and results in the damage of gums and enamel. If you identify that the bristles of your toothbrush has bent, that shows you are brushing way too hard.
2. Improper Choice of Toothbrush:
Overly hard brushing is not the only cause that can damage your teeth. Using toothbrush made with medium or hard bristles can also erode the gums and enamel. This is why soft toothbrush is always recommended for most people. If you have a history of gum disease or have sensitive teeth, consider extra soft toothbrush for cleaning. Smaller the head of the toothbrush, more comfortable it would be to use.
3. Brushing too Often:
Brushing is good, but brushing more than needed can also be detrimental to your teeth. Unless suggested by your dentist or oral surgeon, do not brush your teeth more than three times a day.
4. Not Brushing Often Enough:
Just as how too much brushing can be bad, not brushing enough can also pose problems. Oral surgeons, dentists and other experts suggest brushing your teeth twice a day, each with duration of two minutes – one in the morning and the other at night before bed.
5. Not Replacing your Toothbrush:
People often overlook the fact that replacing toothbrush after stipulated period of usage is imperative. Replacing toothbrush is important as it will contain more bacteria. The more you use it, less will be its effectiveness in cleaning your teeth. Oral surgeons and dentists recommend replacing your toothbrush every three to four months.
6. Skipping Cleansing of Tongue and Gums:
Brushing doesn’t mean that you have to clean your teeth alone. It actually means that you need to cleanse your whole mouth, which includes both your tongue and gums. Neglecting your tongue and gums can develop germs that can stay and grow in numbers.
How? Gently massage your gums while brushing your teeth. Clean your tongue with the help of a tongue cleaner to remove the germs.
7. Brushing Right After Eating:
Some think that brushing your teeth soon after eating or drinking is the best way to maintain dental hygiene. But that’s not the case. Always wait 30 minutes after eating to brush your teeth; else it can damage your enamel.
Next time you brush your teeth, avoid these mistakes as pointed out by oral surgeons. Maintain good dental hygiene and stay healthy!
