There are many common dental hygiene mistakes that can cause damage to your teeth. It is important to ensure that you thoroughly protect your teeth from these mistakes in order to optimize your oral hygiene routine. Here are some of the best ways to help protect the health of your teeth from sustaining damage due to common dental hygiene mistakes.
The Importance of Caring for your Teeth
When you don’t focus on caring for your teeth, many negative consequences can occur. Bacteria can accumulate and eat away at the enamel layer of your teeth. It is crucial to follow a great oral hygiene routine to regularly remove plaque, bacteria, and food particles from the surface of your teeth, which will help to keep them in good condition.
Common Dental Hygiene Mistakes
There are several common dental hygiene mistakes that can result in serious health consequences for your teeth. Understanding the most common dental hygiene mistakes will allow you to take the steps to avoid them and cause damage to your teeth. It is important to avoid common dental hygiene mistakes to adequately protect your teeth.
Not Brushing Properly
The techniques that you use to brush your teeth will impact the final outcome of your cleaning. It is important to ensure that you are brushing your teeth properly in order to ensure that your teeth can be cleaned thoroughly. You will want to hold the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle to your gum line and brush in short strokes.
Spending Inadequate Time on Brushing
Most experts agree that it will take approximately 2 minutes to effectively remove particles from the surface of your teeth. However, many people only spend around 45 seconds on brushing their teeth. This is an insufficient amount of time to properly clean the teeth. It is important to ensure that you spend the proper amount of time brushing your teeth.
Using the Wrong Kind of Toothbrush
The wrong kind of toothbrush can result in many issues. This is a common oral hygiene mistake. It may not clean your teeth properly and can even cause damage to the enamel layer of your teeth. It is crucial to ensure that you use the right toothbrush for your specific situation. Hard-bristled toothbrushes should only be used when recommended by your dentist. Otherwise, these bristles can damage the protective layer of enamel that covers your teeth.
Skipping Flossing
Though it is extremely important to brush your teeth effectively, you can’t skip flossing. Food particles can easily become trapped in the spaces between your teeth, where a toothbrush can’t reach. Flossing helps to remove these particles before they are able to cause damage to your teeth. It is important to floss at least once a day.
Consuming Excessive Sugar
Bacteria inside of the mouth feed off of sugars when they are introduced to the mouth. This can allow them to grow and accumulate substantially, which can cause the teeth to decay. Cutting back on your sugar consumption can go a long way toward improving the overall health of your teeth.
Not Staying Hydrated
It is crucial to ensure that you take the steps to stay hydrated throughout the day. Regularly sipping on water will help to flush food particles out of the mouth. Additionally, being dehydrated will often allow your mouth to dry out. This tends to create an environment in which bacteria thrive, which results in even more damage to your teeth.
Not Using Fluoride
Fluoride-infused products can significantly improve the protective enamel layer of your teeth. Fluoride aids in remineralizing the teeth and preventing damage to the teeth. Fluoride comes in many products, including toothpaste, mouthwash, and even tap water.
Skipping Dental Visits
Some people only visit the dentist when they are experiencing a dental emergency. However, this can lead to substantial oral health problems. It is important to visit your dentist on a regular basis to receive cleanings to protect your teeth.
Brushing Once a Day
Some people only brush in the morning to get rid of morning breath before they go about their day. However, this allows the bacteria that have accumulated on your teeth throughout the day to simply grow overnight. This can lead to substantial oral health issues.
Overbrushing
Though it is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day, it is similarly important to refrain from brushing your teeth too many times throughout the day. This can cause wear to the enamel layer of your teeth. It is also important to be gentle when you brush your teeth. Pressing too hard on the teeth while brushing can similarly lead to damage to the teeth.
Mouthwash in Place of Brushing
Many people think that mouthwash use can be used in place of brushing or flossing their teeth. However, while mouthwash can certainly be a valuable addition to an oral hygiene routine, it does not replace other critical components of your oral hygiene routine.
Using the Wrong Products
It is critical to do your research prior to choosing the products, such as toothpaste, that you use on your teeth. Ensure that they are approved by the ADA to guarantee that they will do what they claim to do. You may also want to ensure that your products include fluoride to further strengthen your teeth.
Infrequent Changes of the Toothbrush
A toothbrush will wear down over time, which will cause it to be less effective at cleaning your teeth. It is important to regularly replace your toothbrush to ensure the best condition for your smile. It is recommended to have your toothbrush replaced every 3 to 4 months to protect your oral health.
Storing Toothbrush Incorrectly
Though you need to change your toothbrush regularly, it is important to store it appropriately. When you put your toothbrush in a drawer, you are putting it in an environment where bacteria can freely grow and accumulate. Ensure that you keep your toothbrush stored upright to accelerate drying and prevent bacteria accumulation.
Here at Bismarck Advanced Dental Implants, we strive to provide the appropriate services to keep your teeth in great condition. Avoiding common dental hygiene mistakes will go a long way toward protecting the health of your teeth. For example, you may want to quit smoking or biting your nails in order to improve the health of your teeth. To learn more about improving your oral health, contact us at Bismarck Advanced Dental Implants today!