5 Oral Hygiene Mistakes You Should Avoid Making

Dentist Blog

By now, you are likely well aware of the importance of good oral hygiene. If you take good care of your teeth and gums, you will be much less likely to suffer from tooth decay and other serious dental health conditions. However, you could be making oral hygiene mistakes without even realizing it. Here are five oral hygiene mistakes you should avoid making.

Using Your Teeth as Tools

Have you ever opened a bottle with your teeth or chewed on a pen? If so, you could be doing a lot of damage to your teeth. Using your teeth as tools can wear down the enamel and make them more susceptible to breakage. You should only use your teeth to chew your food.

Brushing Too Aggressively 

Brushing your teeth with a lot of force might seem like it would remove a lot more plaque. However, brushing your teeth too aggressively can actually wear down the enamel. Instead, use a soft-bristle toothbrush to gently brush the surfaces of your teeth.

Brushing Your Teeth After Eating

Although brushing your teeth immediately after eating might seem like a good idea, it can actually do a lot of damage to your pearly whites. Brushing your teeth too soon can push food acids deeper into your teeth, weakening the enamel. Wait at least a half an hour after eating to brush your teeth.

Neglecting Your Tongue

Your teeth and gums are not the only places in your mouth that have bacteria; your tongue can also harbor bacteria. That is why it is very important to brush your tongue every day with a toothbrush for 30 seconds. Brushing your tongue will remove food particles and bacteria that contribute to cavities, gum disease and bad breath.

Snapping Your Floss

If you frequently snap your floss between your teeth, you can irritate and weaken your gums. Instead, just gently slide a piece of floss between your teeth in back and forth motions. Flossing between your teeth more gently will keep your gums in better shape.

If you avoid making these common oral hygiene mistakes, your teeth and gums will be in much better shape. However, if you do encounter a dental issue, such as a cavity or inflamed gums, you should see your dentist as soon as possible. A dentist like those at Dentistry For the Entire Family will examine your teeth and gums and determine the best way to treat your oral hygiene issue.

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23 February 2015

Mouth Rinses Are Not Just for Bad Breath

I have always brushed and flossed my teeth daily, but I still had the occasional cavity when I visited the dentist for a check-up. He told me it was normal to have a cavity on occasion and that I shouldn't let it stress me out too much. Well, I am not one to just accept any problem I am having, so I started looking into how to improve my oral hygiene even more. I had always thought mouthwash was just to improve your breath, but I found some that said they helped keep cavities away. I started using one every day before bed. I haven't had a cavity in two years now, and I think the mouth rinse is the reason! I created this blog to remind other people that even if they brush and floss regularly, they can always find ways to take even better care of their teeth.