Understanding proper brushing and flossing techniques is essential for maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Many patients believe they follow a good routine, but small mistakes can lead to bigger dental problems over time.
After reviewing patient habits, dentists often notice two common issues:
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Patients underestimate the importance of flossing
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Patients do not fully understand how to brush correctly
Improving these habits can lead to better dental checkups and healthier smiles.
As a result, we want to educate you on these two things in an effort to help you improve your oral health so that when you visit Dr. Thein for a routine dental appointment, you’ll be delighted to hear something along the lines of “Your teeth look very good, no issues found – keep at your routine!”
Unfortunately for most patients, their dental appointment often ends with “brush more” or “floss more” or some type of procedure recommended to reverse the damage done as a result of not staying on top of their dental routine.
The Importance of Flossing
Flossing removes debris from areas your toothbrush cannot reach. It cleans under the gumline, where bacteria often build up.
If you skip flossing, food particles stay trapped between your teeth. Bacteria feed on this debris while you sleep.
Make flossing part of your nightly routine. This simple step can prevent many dental problems.
The American Dental Association also recommends daily flossing for better oral health.
3 Most Common Toothbrush Mistakes
Secondly, patients are often guilty of these 3 toothbrush mistakes that could be detrimental to your oral health.
Improper Form – Brushing Back and Forth
When you brush your teeth, you should brush in a circular motion which will connect with the gumline. If you are only brushing back and forth, chances are you will miss the gumline and now allow yourself an effective clean. Gumline cleaning is key because this is where the bacteria reside.
Not Brushing for 2 Minutes Per Session
When you brush your teeth, the entire session should last AT LEAST 2 minutes in duration. Most patients will go 30 seconds – 1 minute and call it quits. Chances are you only brushed half of your mouth effectively, which means bacteria will be feasting as you sleep (i.e. NOT GOOD!).
Not Swapping Out Your Toothbrush
Whether it’s laziness or inappropriate funds, most patients will use their toothbrush for as long as they can. However, this is bad for many reasons. For one, hard bristles will cause receding gums and secondly, you will not be able to receive a thorough clean if the bristles are fray. Replace your manual toothbrush or electric toothbrush head once every 3 months as the generally accepted rule. Though, realistically you should replace them whenever the bristles become hardened or fray.