Skip to main content
408-404-8385

5 Mistakes People Make When Brushing Their Teeth

Hillsdale Dental Care Blog 5 Mistakes People Make When Brushing Their Teeth

Dental health is easy right? Two minutes of brushing twice a day, followed by flossing. A visit to the dentist twice a year and your on your way! Well it’s not that simple. Most adults in the United States are actually brushing their teeth incorrectly. Are you? Find out what the most common mistakes are below.

Only brushing one time a day

This is a major no-no. If you’re only brushing once a day, your oral, and overall health will suffer. In only 24 hours, millions of bacteria can grow.  Make sure you are brushing twice a day, at the very least.

Brushing too often

We know how nice a clean mouth feels. However, brushing too much can wear away enamel and irritate gums–which leads to infection and inflammation. Only brush up to three times per day! If you have something stuck in your teeth, opt for floss instead.

Brushing at the wrong angle.

Make sure you angle your brush at a 45 degree angle. This ensures that you are getting rid of food debri and bacteria that hugs the gum line. Many adults brush at a straight 90 angle, which means they miss all of the dangerous things hiding along their gumline!

Brushing too rough

Many people believe that brushing more roughly will remove more built up plaque and bacteria. In reality, brushing too roughly can harm your enamel and gums. By brushing too roughly you can cause your gums to recede over time, which results in poor oral health. Make sure your tooth brush has soft bristles, and that you’re not brushing to hard! Make sure to your replace your toothbrush when the bristles are bent as well.

Flossing after brushing

Flossing before brushing exposes areas that need the fluoride in your toothpaste. Over time, this helps to improve your overall oral health. Flossing also breaks free food that is stuck between teeth, thus making your toothbrush more effective. Be sure you are flossing before you brush to ensure optimal cleaning.

With just a couple quick changes to your teeth brushing routine, you can be on your way to healthy white teeth!

You Might Also Enjoy...

A Closer Look at the Root Canal Process
You’re making the smart move to end your pain and protect your tooth with a root canal procedure. Here’s a step-by-step look at what we do during this surprisingly quick-and-easy office visit.
4 Ways Smoking Affects Your Oral Health

4 Ways Smoking Affects Your Oral Health
The list is a very long one when it comes to why smoking is bad for you, and we’re going to add your oral health. Here are some ways that smoking can negatively impact your teeth and gums.

What We Want You to Know About Adult Tooth Loss
It's all cuteness when a child loses her baby teeth and turns them over to the tooth fairy. It’s not so cute when you lose teeth as an adult. Here's what’s behind this surprisingly common problem.