You might think that brushing twice a day and a bit of flossing here and there will keep your teeth clean and healthy, but there is a little more to it than that.
In 2021, 63% of Brits said they brush their teeth twice a day, which means a whopping 37% don’t! Here’s another 5 common mistakes people make:
- Not Brushing Long Enough
Stick to the 2×2 rule, 2 minutes Twice a day, once in the morning and once before you go to bed. You’d be surprised the difference it can make to your teeth by just brushing an extra 30 seconds!
Top Tip: Set a timer on your phone or watch a clock to tell when 2 minutes has been. Electric toothbrushes will usually warn you when 2 minutes has passed or some actually do shorter intervals so that you know when to move to a new section of your mouth.
- Rinsing your mouth after brushing
This is a common mistake, when you rinse your teeth with water (or mouthwash) you actually wash away all the good fluoride from the toothpaste. Fluoride is a mineral that protects your teeth from decay, so you want to keep the nice layer you’ve put on from brushing your teeth.
- Using the wrong toothpaste
There isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ toothpaste unfortunately, we all have different needs and favourites. However, do check the fluoride content of your preferred toothpaste, the recommended amount for adults is between 1350 and 1500 parts per million.
This also applies to vegan or other alternatives for toothpaste, make sure they at least contain fluoride as some are fluoride-free.
- Brushing too hard
You may think that brushing harder cleans your teeth better, but it doesn’t, it can wear your teeth down and cause receding gums. If you use a manual toothbrush, be gentle! If you use an electric toothbrush, they usually have a sensor that will flicker if you are brushing too hard.
- Using the wrong toothbrush or an old toothbrush
Manual or electric, we do recommend electric, but you can clean your teeth just as well with a manual toothbrush. We’ve mentioned some of the benefits of an electric toothbrush above, such as built-in timer and sensor to tell you if you’re applying too much pressure, some of the fancier ones you can connect to an app on your smartphone, and it can track which parts of your mouth you have missed!
A couple of things to remember when choosing a toothbrush, electric or manual, a smaller head is better as it allows you to reach right to the back of your mouth and you can cover one tooth at a time (which is what you want). You also want to make sure you are using soft or medium bristles, this will help with cleaning your teeth gently.
Every person is different and so is their oral hygiene and what is best for them, we always recommend regular check-ups with one of our amazing hygienists who will be able to give you the best advice for you and give your teeth and gums a good clean!
