10 Mistakes When Brushing Your Teeth

Is brushing your teeth twice a day all you need to do to keep your mouth healthy? Unfortunately, no merely brushing your teeth is not enough to keep your mouth in tip-top condition. Here are 10 common mistakes people make when brushing their teeth.

1. Using mouthwash instead of flossing or interdental cleaning - Unfortunately swishing your mouth with mouthwash does not accomplish the same results as cleaning between your teeth. Even though many mouthwash companies claim their products remove 99% of bacteria, mouthwash is unable to scrape the plaque away from the teeth the way floss or interdental brushes can. Interdental cleaning should be part of your daily routine (preferably at the end of the day) especially if you have restorations such as dental veneers or dental crowns.

2. Only flossing the front teeth - It is important to floss all your teeth, including the hard to reach ones. Flossing removes the plaque and biofilms that cause dental decay and gum disease. Molars and premolars require the same care as the anterior teeth to prevent tooth loss.

3. Brushing too hard - Brushing hard will not make your teeth cleaner, bad technique can cause wear on your teeth and receding gums. Most electric toothbrushes have sensors that will warn you when you are brushing too hard. If you feel you could benefit from some tooth brushing advice speak to your dentist or hygienist at your next dental appointment.

4. Not using an electric toothbrush - Manual toothbrushes are great if you are one of the few people that have an excellent brushing technique however most people will benefit from an electric toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes have their own brushing technique, timers and smaller heads so it is easier to get into the hard to reach areas. Recent studies have shown that people who use an electric toothbrush are less likely to have decay, gum disease and keep their teeth for longer.

5. Not replacing your toothbrush/toothbrush head regularly - Your brush won’t be as effective at removing plaque along the gum line if the bristles are worn. Dentists recommend changing your toothbrush every 3 months or if you have been unwell.

6. Brushing straight away after eating - When you eat or drink something acidic it removes the protective layer of saliva from your teeth. We recommend you wait at least 30 minutes after eating or drinking before brushing so as not to remove the tooth’s enamel.

7. Only brushing once a day - A recent study showed 28% of people in the UK only brush once a day. Brushing twice a day is vital to keep your mouth healthy. The night-time brush is the most important, during the day the things you eat and drink build up on your teeth. Saliva neutralises the acid in the mouth and also has natural antibacterial properties. However when you sleep the levels of saliva in your mouth drop. By not removing the debris, bacteria and plaque can build up quickly.

8. Using fluoride-free toothpaste - Fluoride helps to strengthen the enamel and prevent decay. Children especially need to use fluoride toothpaste to help strengthen their developing teeth. Adult toothpaste should contain 1400ppm of fluoride and a child’s toothpaste 1000ppm.

9. Rinsing your mouth after brushing - ‘Spit don’t rinse’. It is important to spit out the remaining toothpaste after brushing your teeth but do not rinse your mouth. Toothpaste has lots of important minerals which help to strengthen your teeth, if you rinse your mouth after brushing you are washing away these minerals.

10. Not brushing for long enough - The average person brushes for 48 seconds. To remove all the plaque and build-up on your teeth, we recommend you brush for at least 2 minutes, twice a day. Most electric toothbrushes have a built-in timer, if yours doesn’t or you use a manual brush put the radio on and brush to the length of a song.

Our dentists recommended regular visits to the hygienist to help keep your mouth healthy.

S3 Dental Eltham is currently taking on new private from all over South East London including Bromley, Sidcup, Greenwich and Lewisham.

For more information or to register, contact us on 0208 850 9836.