While lots of persons are afraid to go pay a visit to a dentist, they don’t do much to maintain their oral and dental health and hygiene either. The truth is, some individuals who diligently brush day by day, also find themselves affected by pain and other such problems, despite all their efforts.

While visiting your dentist every few months is advisable, you may as well do some things at your end to maintain your dental health. Dr Diksha Tahilramani Batra, a prosthodontist, implantologist and smile design specialist, says there are particular mistakes that folks do while brushing their teeth, a routine that is commonly a subconscious habit, but one which can result in poor oral health and hygiene, if not done properly.

1. Not using a correct toothbrush

The largest myth of our time is to purchase a medium or hard toothbrush to scrub more effectively. This will cause maximum damage over time by wearing off healthy, natural teeth with overzealous care.

2. Using an anti-sensitivity/whitening toothpaste permanently

A typical mistake is to make use of a medicated toothpaste meant to mask sensitivity over a chronic period. Such a practice masks the symptom, but doesn’t treat the issue and likewise makes you vulnerable to cavities, gum disease and bad breath, for the reason that predominant component in such a toothpaste is for treating sensitivity or lightening tooth color.

The sort of toothpaste doesn’t matter, so long as you employ the appropriate amount and brush twice a day. Sensitive toothpastes are supposed to be used for a prescribed time frame and whitening toothpastes have to be used under supervision to forestall any potential damage to your teeth. Toothpaste must protect your teeth and gums, so use a mix that accommodates fluoride that protects your teeth from decay, and gel-based parts which have antibacterial properties to forestall gum disease and bad breath.

3. Brushing too quickly, or too persistently

Most of us hate going to the dentist and find brushing a better alternative. But you can not exactly brush off old cavities — just prevent latest ones. Make sure you brush your teeth not greater than twice a day. Excessive brushing can damage your gums and enamel. It doesn’t take lots of pressure to remove the plaque, hence most dental practitioners suggest brushing using a balanced pressure.

Sensitive toothpastes are supposed to be used for a prescribed time frame and whitening toothpastes have to be used under supervision to forestall any potential damage to your teeth. (Photo: Pixabay)

4. Incorrect brushing technique

The strokes while brushing your teeth have to be vertical and never horizontal. Many persons are habituated with performing long horizontal brushing strokes. This results in irritation and damage.

Hold your brush at an angle of 45 degrees to your gums and brush your gums and teeth with an up and down motion and short strokes. Don’t use side to side strokes. Also, start brushing on areas that you will have been ignoring till now; reach the inner portions of your teeth.

5. Wrestling

Hard brushing damages the gums. Brushing greater than 3-4 times can be bad for you. Since unlearning a foul brushing habit could also be hard, switch from a manual to an automatic brush. A battery-operated brush takes the guesswork out of brushing. It might take some time to get adjusted to it, but like so many other things, automatic brushes make dental hygiene easy and even reduce the frequency of your dental visits.

“Brushing your teeth is simply a component of a whole dental care routine. Washing the mouth twice a day keeps it clean. Floss your teeth; it helps remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line. Eat a balanced food regimen and limit snacking between meals. Visit your dentist recurrently for skilled cleanings,” says Dr Batra.

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