We are all taught the things we should do to make sure our teeth remain strong and healthy. The problem is that we get so used to doing them out of repetition that we don’t really think about whether or not we’re doing them properly. Here are some dental habits that may be causing your teeth more harm than good because you’re not doing them right:
- A lot of people aren’t aware that they must break off roughly 18 inches of dental floss in order to optimize it. The purpose of having a long string is so that the floss keeps getting swapped out by a clean strip when the previous one gets dirty.
- Don’t use too much toothpaste. It is common to see toothpaste commercials that display the whole toothbrush’s head covered in toothpaste but that is way too much for human use. Doctors have found that using too much toothpaste can cause damage to the teeth and may even erode the enamel. A pea-sized amount of toothpaste should work just fine.
- Plaque also builds up on the inner areas of the teeth and although they aren’t visible to other people, they can cause just as much damage when neglected.
- Some people think that more is better but when it comes to brushing your teeth, there is such a thing as doing it too much or too forcefully. It is advised that you should gently brush your teeth no more than three times a day to avoid irritating the gums and potentially exposing the tooth’s root.
- There are certain types of mouthwash that contain fluoride and are useful for preventing tooth decay and killing traces of bacteria in your mouth but there are types that are for cosmetic purposes, such as covering up bad breath. These don’t do anything to help you and should be skipped. When using a fluoride mouthwash, don’t rinse your mouth with it right after brushing your teeth and avoid food and drink for at least 30 minutes afterwards.
- When you experience pain, don’t disregard that as part of the flossing process. While it is perfectly natural to feel some discomfort when you start flossing, it should not cause you any pain. Reassess the way you floss and make sure your methods don’t cause pain or bleeding.
- You may pride yourself on brushing your teeth daily but are you sure you’re doing it long or often enough? It is recommended that we brush our teeth at least twice a day, with each session lasting two minutes at the least. Taking this much time will make sure you get to all the surfaces of your teeth and clean them properly.
- You may think that your regimen of brushing and flossing will be enough to keep your teeth perfect but you’d be wrong. Make sure to go to the dentist at least twice a year, if only for a check-up or cleaning. Dentists can get to places in your mouth that you can’t, they make sure that everything is alright, and they can get to work immediately when there’s something wrong.
Briana Cameron blogs regularly for Optimize Life and helps with marketing for several companies including an Emergency Dentist Office in Barrie, Ontario.
Originally posted on March 7, 2014 @ 5:38 pm