It’s essential to know that when it comes to oral health, there are certain mistakes people make inadvertently. One of such mistakes is over-brushing or brushing your teeth too hard. Brushing your teeth too hard is harmful but only a few persons are aware of such.
Over-Brushing is Harmful
Most people who practice the act of over-brushing actually have the best intentions of keeping their mouth clean, but are using too much force of too hard of a toothbrush to achieve their aims. The bitter truth is, contrary to their expectations, they are causing more damage to their oral health. Brushing your teeth vigorously or too hard doesn’t make them cleaner in any way.
In as much as your teeth need to be brushed twice daily, over-brushing can unexpectedly cause harm to your enamel and gums and lead to dental problems.
Signs That You Are Over-Brushing
Worried about not knowing if you are over-brushing or not? Here’s the good news: your dentist will be able to identify signs of over-brushing at your dental visit. Needless to say, over-brushing or hard brushing can cause the following:
- Yellow Teeth
- Thin Enamel
- Cavities On the Roots of The Teeth
- Receding Gums
- Teeth Sensitivity
- Damaged Teeth
Luckily, you can actually stop over-brushing and reduce the risks of these problems. Now even if you think you’re not over-brushing, there are some easy steps to take to keep your overall oral health healthy.
Simply do the following:
1. Watch Your Toothbrush
One of the key things to do is to replace your toothbrush every three months. If for instance, the bristles of your toothbrush are fraying or don’t look new anymore, they are probably worn out and you need to replace such toothbrush ASAP. If you continue using a worn-out toothbrush, it then means you are scraping your teeth with jagged ends that are not supposed or meant to touch your teeth.
You should always keep track of how long it takes before your toothbrush begins to wear out. If, for instance, your toothbrush begins to look fray just after a month, then it’s a sign that you’re brushing your teeth too hard, which is not good for your oral health.
2. Be Gentle While Brushing Your Teeth
You should be informed that plaque is soft, therefore, you need to brush your teeth with utmost gentleness. Don’t just scrub your mouth carelessly and with all your strength as you would scrub a WC. As long as you carefully but thoroughly reach all the corners of your mouth, you’ll be getting your teeth clean without any damage or injury. It’s also important to note that forcefully pushing the bristles against your teeth is not a good idea as that will affect your enamel. And once your enamel is gone, it won’t grow back again! So why take the risk when you can prevent such irreparable damage?
3. Get The Right Brush for Your Teeth
There’s absolutely no point buying hard or medium bristle toothbrushes when they have no oral health benefits. Soft toothbrushes can do just fine in cleaning your teeth without damaging your enamel. Also, if you have tooth sensitivity, a soft toothbrush is highly recommendable.
You should also remember to floss every day, as this is essential in getting rid of bacteria and plaque between your teeth. Flossing is crucial because it helps to clean the teeth where brushing can’t reach.
4. Visit Your Dentist Every Six Months
Visiting your dentist every six months is actually one of the best ways to keep your oral health intact. That is to say, at your visit, your teeth and gums will be properly examined to avoid problems such as over-brushing, cavities, and lots more.
Visit Beyond Smile Dental Clinic at 99 Demurin Street, Ketu, Lagos to schedule your next dental cleaning and check us out at www.beyondsmile247.com .
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