5 Most Common Oral Hygiene Mistakes

August 05, 2020, UK

You may have heard these rules over and over: it’s important to brush your teeth twice a day, and you should floss regularly. and flossing regularly. However, there’s more to oral hygiene than brushing and flossing; and many people make the mistake of falling flat of their oral-hygiene goals.

In fact, here are five of the most common mistakes people would make in oral hygiene.

1. Brushing Too Hard

“Some people may think that if you brush hard, then your teeth will be cleaner,” says Savannah Gair, a lifestyle writer at Boom essays and Paper fellows. “However, that isn’t the case. The truth is, aggressive scrubbing can actually cause enamel abrasion and gum recession, which lead to sensitivity issues and tooth loss.”

So, how do you make sure that your teeth are clean?

“Use a soft-headed toothbrush, or an American Dental Association (ADA)-approved electric brush with a soft head,” adds Gair. “Plus, you may want to break the habit of brushing too hard, because habit plays a huge role in aggressive scrubbing.”

2. “Flossing” With Mouthwash

No matter what, you have to floss. This means not substituting mouth wash for it.
Mouthwash may be a great add-on for any oral hygiene regimen, but it can’t get to those hard-to-reach spots in between and around the teeth that only flossing can get to. In other words, mouthwash only disinfects the oral cavity, not remove oral debris.
Therefore, it’s safer to floss with either a traditional floss or a water flosser, so that you can get rid of the food debris that has the potential of breaking down and turning into plaque and tartar if left untreated.

3. Not Spending Enough Time Brushing

Although some people may have a business schedule, and can’t afford to spend a lot of time brushing, it’s not worth speeding through. What actually happens is that rushing doesn’t get the job done, and can potentially lead to oral health problems, when it comes to your teeth and gums. In fact, rushing can lead to plaque deposits, bad breath, gum inflammation, and cavities. And, you might miss a few teeth when you rush.

Therefore, it’s important to spend some time brushing. In fact, the American Dental Association recommends that you spend at least two minutes brushing your teeth every time you brush. One way to make sure that you spend that much time brushing is using a sonic toothbrush with a built-in timer, or you can set the timer on your phone for two minutes.

4. Buying Just Any Toothpaste

Truth be told: not all toothpaste is created equal. In fact, that one-dollar (or simple pricing) toothpaste on sale might not be a good deal after all.

So, when looking for a good toothpaste to use, keep the following objectives in mind:
Look for the American Dental Association (ADA) stamp on a product. The ADA is your go-to source when it comes to oral hygiene products.

Ask your dental healthcare provider about which product(s) would be best for you, and stick to those products.

Think about the tooth issues that you might have (i.e. cavities, gingivitis, etc.), and go with a product that can minimize said issues.

5. Not Visiting The Dentist Regularly

“Sometimes, people may not go to the dentist, because their teeth aren’t hurting, or there’s nothing warranting a visit,” says Jackson Nibbi, a health writer at Australian help and State of writing. “However, seeing a dentist regularly is essential. Dentists help to make sure that your teeth and mouth are healthy. But, if you wait until there’s a tooth problem, or if your mouth hurts to see a dentist, then chances are, there are underlying problems that have developed over time that you might not have been aware of. So, to give yourself peace of mind and a healthy mouth, try to see your dentist for a regular checkup every six months, so that underlying issues won’t evolve into something serious.”

Conclusion

Although it’s true that many people make oral hygiene mistakes – whether unknowingly or intentionally – you may want to take another look at how you’re caring for your teeth and mouth. To ensure that you’re getting the best out of your regular oral hygiene regimen, and avoid any of the mistakes that were mentioned above, talk to your dentist, and ask for advice on taking proper care of your teeth and mouth.

Kristin Herman is a tech enthusiast and a project manager at Academized and UK Writings online writing services. She writes articles for online magazine and blogs, such as Essay Roo, and others.

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