From waking up in the morning to going to bed every night, and sometimes in between meals too, if there’s anything we do religiously, it’s brushing our teeth. No matter where we are or what we’re doing, we never skip this ritual at any cost, right? But have you ever tried to find out if you’re doing it right?
Miriam Alonso/Pexels | Despite following the routine each day since childhood, there’s a high probability you might be making silly mistakes while brushing your teeth
Well, don’t be shocked! Despite following the routine daily since your childhood, there’s a high chance you might be making silly mistakes while brushing your teeth. Lucky for you, today we’re letting the cat out of the bag on the common mistakes people make while taking care of their gnashers.
#1 – Not replacing toothbrush as required
Okay, answer this one honestly! How many times do you replace your toothbrush in a year? Once or twice at most, isn’t it?
Well, you’re not alone! Most people forget to replace their toothbrushes and keep using them until they wear out significantly. What people fail to understand is that by using the same brush day in and out, they’re not only inviting germs and bacterias in their mouth but also harming their teeth.
Sarah Chai/Pexels | Most people forget to replace their toothbrushes and keep using them until they wear out
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, toothbrushes should be replaced every three to four months, or even earlier than that if their bristles wear out.
#2 – Brushing only once a day
If you’re a one-and-done person and feel there’s no need to brush twice a day, you might want to reconsider this. The American Dental Association says brushing your pearly whites twice a day is a must to keep them safe from germs and bacterias. When you brush before going to bed, and upon waking up, you stop the germs from building up. Moreover, this practice saves you from getting a cavity in the long run.
Sora Shimazaki/Pexels | Brushing can remove food or germs stuck on top of your teeth, but it can’t remove the unwanted food stuck in between your teeth
#3 – Flossing regularly
Many of us think brushing is enough to keep our teeth strong, but that’s only partially correct. Brushing can remove food or germs stuck on top of your teeth, but it can’t remove the unwanted food particles stuck between your teeth. This is where flossing comes into play.
Flossing not only cleans spaces in between teeth but also removes the plaque layer, which the brush’s bristle can’t touch. Above all, it improves oral hygiene and leaves you feeling fresher.
Wrapping it up
There are many small things that we avoid when brushing on a regular basis. At times we either finish too fast or keep brushing for too long, and in other instances, we don’t do it properly. Before turning to expensive products and dental experts, let’s make it a point to learn good oral hygiene and focus on how we can improve it.
