Your parents have laid a great foundation for your good dental hygiene—props to Mom and Dad! But occasionally, you still see puffiness in your gums or experience bleeding while flossing at night. The mystery of what’s lacking in your dental routine begins! Fortunately, Sand Lake Family Dental is here with our handy notebook full of tips and a magnifying glass to take a closer look at the problem. In most cases of dental anonymities, your approach to brushing may be the issue. Here are nine myths that you’re blindly following—broken down and explained—from your dentist in Doctor Phillips, Dr. Ziyad Maali.
1. YOU NEED A ROUGH BRISTLED TOOTHBRUSH.
False. Flexibility and the ability to reach tight spaces in your mouth are both important factors to consider when picking a toothbrush. Dr. Maali is consistent in recommending soft-bristled toothbrushes. This type of brush provides the flexibility that you need to fit in the tight crevices of your mouth.
2. FLOSS AFTER YOU BRUSH.
Most people think that they’re “wrapping up” their oral hygiene routine by flossing after they have just brushed their teeth. Actually, it is more effective to floss beforehand. Your soft-bristled toothbrush will be able to get in between your teeth where plaque previously stood in the way.
3. TOOTH BRUSHING IS QUICK AND FAST.
It has been reported that the majority of people hardly brush their teeth for longer than one minute. You should be brushing your teeth for a minimum of two minutes. You can purchase an Electric Toothbrush with a timer to get you back on track, or simply play a song about two to three minutes long while you complete your brushing.
4. YOU SHOULD BRUSH IN A CIRCULAR MOTION.
Brushing with circular strokes helps clean your teeth, but can also slowly erode your gums. The best way to hold your brush is at a 45-degree angle and brush up and down. Keep the pressure gentle – a death grip on the toothbrush is unnecessary. Stiff bristles and hard brushing can cause inflammation of the gums.
5. BRUSHING YOUR TEETH DOESN’T INCLUDE YOUR GUMS.
Brushing your teeth actually means brushing your whole tooth, from crown to root…or at least everything you can get to with your brush! That includes just under the gums. Dangerous bacteria often hang out where your tooth meets your gums. We miss that area a lot, letting plaque eventually build up. Remember to be gentle with your gums!
6. ….OR YOUR TONGUE, FOR THAT MATTER.
Everybody cleans the outside of their teeth, which is the part people can see. Usually, everyone brushes the chewing surfaces, too. The inside of the mouth, though? Not so much. Forgetting to brush your tongue can lead to a breeding ground for harmful plaque and bacteria and may cause chronic bad breath.
7. YOU SHOULD BRUSH AFTER EVERY MEAL.
Dr. Maali would love to hear that all his patients brushed their teeth multiple times a day, but it is important to be mindful of how and when you are doing it! Depending on what kind of foods you eat, there may be an acidic or sugary layer left in your mouth. It can be harmful to the enamel on your teeth to finish eating an acidic meal and then move straight to scrubbing your teeth. Our dentist in Doctor Phillips recommends rinsing your mouth with water and waiting 15 to 20 minutes after your meal to begin brushing.
8. YOUR TOOTHBRUSH LASTS FOREVER.
Typically, you should be replacing your toothbrush every three months, or at the first signs of wear. We also recommend replacing your toothbrush after just getting over a cold to avoid getting yourself sick again.
9. YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO USE MOUTHWASH RIGHT AFTER BRUSHING.
Many of us rinse with a minty mouthwash right after brushing, thinking it leaves the mouth cleaner. The truth is, the mouthwash rinses away the fluoride in your toothpaste. Fluoride is an important component of your dental routine, providing reinforcement to the surface of the tooth. So, we recommend using mouthwash about half an hour after brushing.
If you were mind-boggled about what was wrong with your dental routine, think back on your brushing habits. Some minor changes will greatly change your overall oral health for the better! Don’t forget to Visit Our Office for semi-annual deep dental cleanings and examinations, just to double-check that your oral health is still on track!
