In an average lifetime, we spend about 82 days brushing our teeth. It’s an important step in our daily routine and, for many of us, we do it on autopilot.
Good oral hygiene is essential to prevent tooth decay and gingivitis, but it can also play an important role in reducing the risk of heart disease, dementia and respiratory infections such as pneumonia. And yet, many of us get it wrong.
Newsweek spoke with Dr. Smita Mehra, Principal Dentist at The Neem Tree Dental Practicesto find out what mistakes many of us make when it comes to brushing our teeth and what to do instead.
Mistake 1: Using whitening toothpaste every day
According to US Census data, approximately 37 million Americans used teeth whiteners as of 2020, spending billions of dollars each year on at-home whitening products. Many others opt for teeth whitening toothpastes in an effort to maintain that perfect smile. But are teeth whitening toothpastes a good idea?
“While whitening toothpastes are generally safe to use, using them every day or at high levels may have the potential to damage teeth or irritate gums without professional dental advice,” Mehra said. Newsweek. “This is because the peroxide content in some whitening gels and toothpastes has the potential to cause ulcers or gum tissue irritation if used in high amounts.”
He added: “Not only that, but the peroxide levels in some whitening toothpastes can also cause tooth sensitivity, which can be extremely painful. So it’s important that if you want to use a whitening toothpaste, you seek professional dental advice before you do They will be able to guide you on how often you should use whitening toothpaste or may suggest natural alternatives you can try.
Alongside traditional whitening toothpastes, recent years have seen an increase in the use of charcoal toothpastes, which promise to whiten teeth by absorbing surface stains. However, while activated charcoal can help remove surface stains to some extent, it doesn’t seem to offer much benefit over regular toothpaste, and its abrasive nature can cause enamel damage if used daily for long periods of time.
“While charcoal toothpaste has grown in popularity on social media in recent years, it actually doesn’t have as many benefits for your teeth as you might think and, in fact, contains lower levels of fluoride than regular toothpaste, which is essential. to prevent tooth decay,” Mehra said.
Mistake 2: Brushing your teeth immediately after eating
How many of you eat your breakfast and immediately go to the bathroom to brush your teeth? While it may be tempting to brush your mouth immediately after eating, you may be doing more harm than good.
“There’s a lot of debate about how soon you should brush your teeth after eating,” Mehra said. “In general, as dentists, we recommend that you wait about an hour before brushing your teeth after eating, especially foods that are highly acidic. This can include things like soft drinks or citrus fruits.”
This is because brushing your teeth right after eating these foods can actually damage your enamel. “You’re basically brushing acid in your mouth all over your teeth,” Mehra said. “Leaving time between brushing and eating allows the saliva in your mouth to wash away any acid, giving the enamel on your teeth time to harden again.”
It is also worth leaving a gap after brushing your teeth before consuming these acidic foods and drinks.
“Many brush their teeth as soon as they wake up,” Mehra added. “Again, avoid eating or drinking anything acidic right after, like tea with lemon or oranges. Try to leave a gap of about an hour before anything acidic.”
Photo illustration from Newsweek
Mistake 3: Brushing your teeth too hard
Mehra said many people “assume that by putting more pressure on the teeth, you get rid of more bacteria in the mouth, but in fact brushing too hard can contribute to the recession of worn enamel and gums, which can contribute to sensitivity and disease of the gums in the long term”.
Mehra added: “As dentists, very often we see people coming in with damaged teeth or gums as a result of brushing too hard.”
So, how should we brush?
“The best way to brush your teeth to ensure maximum cleaning and minimal damage is to brush gently but thoroughly, using a soft-bristled brush,” Mehra said. “An electric toothbrush is highly recommended as the smaller head allows for those hard to reach areas and you can be more gentle.”
Pressure isn’t the only thing to consider when brushing your teeth.
“Many people think you should brush your teeth in an up-and-down or circular motion,” Mehra said. “However, the most effective action is to hold the brush at 45 degrees to the gums and then use a sweeping action across all the teeth in the jaw. This ensures that the gum-to-tooth interface is cleaned without putting too much pressure on the gums.”
Mistake 4: Skipping bedtime brushing
While official guidelines recommend brushing your teeth twice a day, many of us consider brushing in the morning to be the priority. But while your morning breath may feel worse, brushing your teeth before bed is arguably even more important.
“When we ask patients the most important time to brush, morning or evening, they always seem to say morning,” Mehra said. “Actually, the answer should be night.”
He added: “Never forget to brush before bed. This is the time when all your dinner goes black in your mouth and bacteria have a field day. Plus, while you sleep, the act of brushing your mouth, i.e. the It also reduces your saliva and therefore not much cleansing is done. You have been warned!”
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