Going in to your appointment with your dentist in Westhampton, you feel pretty confident. You’re not experiencing any kind of discomfort, and you brush every day. What could go wrong? Quite a bit actually!
Although you can still experience problems even with proper at-home care, healthy daily habits can lower your risk significantly. Here are four common mistakes you may be making and how you can correct them for a healthier smile.
Rushing Through Brushing
When you’re in a hurry to get out the door in the morning or exhausted at the end of a long day, it can seem like a good idea to do a quick brush over your teeth and be done with it. However, cutting the time you spend brushing allows plenty of plaque to stay on your teeth and solidify. Once that happens, it can only be removed by a dental professional. Two solid minutes of brushing gives you enough time to be thorough and protect your teeth against decay and infection.
Brushing Only Once Per Day
There’s a reason why your dentist encourages you to brush twice every day. At night, you have an entire day’s worth of food particles and bacteria to clear out. At first glance, a morning brush looks unnecessary. After all, you’re not eating while you sleep, right? But your saliva production drastically slows down while you doze. This allows bacteria and plaque to accumulate, particularly around the gum line, which is why brushing in the morning is so important.
Skipping Flossing
Did you know that brushing only cleans roughly 25 percent of your mouth? Although most of the other surfaces are soft tissues, the little spaces between your teeth are optimal places for plaque, bits of food, and bacteria to hide and cause trouble, like inflammation in the gums. Flossing at least once every day removes these and prevents buildup in areas where your brush simply can’t reach. This task may seem inconsequential, it can have a huge impact on your oral and even your overall health.
Brushing Too Hard
Even if you brush for two minutes twice every day, you still may not be doing it properly. If you notice your toothbrush’s bristles starting to flare outward before you reach three months of use, you may be guilty of brushing too aggressively. Cleaning your teeth doesn’t require much effort, yet you may be pushing too hard and wearing down your teeth’s protective layer. Enamel is the strongest material in your body, but it is irreparable and irreplaceable. This means that once you’ve lost it, it’s gone for good. Plus, aggressive brushing can cause sensitive gum tissue to recede, exposing more vulnerable portions of your teeth. Instead of brushing too hard, use gentle, circling motions to clean your teeth. That way, you remove unwanted plaque without damaging your enamel.
At-home dental care may seem simple, but if you don’t do it properly, it may not give you the protection you need to avoid serious oral issues. Make sure you’re brushing and flossing in a way that your smile can remain strong for years to come and save you time in the dentist’s chair.
About the Practice
For many years, Beach Dental has helped patients prevent dental problems before they begin. With patient needs at the center of everything they do, Dr. Alexis Gersten and Dr. Jason Parli encourage healthy daily habits as well as maintenance visits every six months to ensure a strong smile. If you’re due for a checkup and cleaning, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment at Beach Dental. You may call 631-325-0731 or visit the website for more information.