Make sure you are brushing your teeth correctly in order to maintain good oral health.

It might seem easy to brush your teeth, but there are a few mistakes that people often make. Here are some of the most common ones, and what you can do about them.

You brush straight after a meal

You might think that you should brush your teeth immediately after eating in order to prevent damage caused by the sugar and acids in your food, but it’s actually better to wait at least 20 minutes after your meal before brushing. Rather, rinse your mouth or have a drink of water after eating. This will give your mouth enough time to produce saliva to counteract the effects of acid before you brush.

You don’t brush at the right angle

Many people brush their teeth in a horizontal line from one side to the other, but it is actually better to use small, circular motions. Begin at the gum, and make little up and down circular motions with your toothbrush. This method is much more effective at removing unwanted plaque and bacteria from your teeth and gums. Also, it’s important that you don’t forget to brush your gum line — try and position your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle with your gumline and move up and down from there.

You’re not brushing for long enough

We recommend that you brush your teeth for at least two minutes each time. If you find it difficult to keep going, try and set a timer on your phone to make sure that you are giving your teeth and gums a thorough clean. This will ensure that you remove all the harmful bacteria from your mouth, which is helpful in preventing problems like tooth decay and gum disease in the long term. Also, don’t forget to brush your teeth at least twice a day, in the morning and the evening before you go to bed.

You’re using the wrong toothbrush

When it comes to choosing a toothbrush, we recommend that you go for one with soft bristles and a small head. Soft bristles tend to be more flexible than hard ones and can reach under the gum line and between the teeth. Soft bristles also generally clean better than hard bristles and work well to remove bacteria, food particles and plaque without causing damage to your teeth and gums. Hard bristles, on the other hand, can wear down the enamel of your teeth over time, which can lead to a range of oral health issues.

You forget about your tongue

The tongue tends to collect a considerable amount of bacteria and food debris, so be sure to give it a good clean every time you brush your teeth. Brushing your tongue will also help to prevent bad breath, and reduce the risk of tooth decay and gum disease caused by harmful bacteria.

You’re brushing too hard

One of the most common mistakes that people make is to brush their teeth too hard. It’s natural to want to get rid of all the plaque and food particles that may have built up on the surface of your teeth, but it’s not actually necessary to scrub too hard. In fact, plaque tends to be fairly loose and soft, which means that you should be able to remove it with a gentle brushing motion. If you would like more advice and information about practising good oral hygiene and maintaining optimal oral health, we encourage you to come in and see us. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch to arrange a consultation. We offer a range of general and preventative dentistry services. To take a look at the treatments we provide, please take a look here.