You’ve been brushing your teeth your whole life, so you may not even be thinking about your technique. However, poor brushing habits are the number one cause of dental problems. Here are 10 of the most common mistakes you may be making when brushing your teeth.

1. Not Brushing Your Teeth for Long Enough: Dental professionals recommend brushing your teeth continuously for two minutes. Two minutes is the amount of time necessary for the fluoride in your toothpaste to attach to your enamel to create a protective barrier against demineralization and decay.
2. Not Brushing Often Enough: The American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth twice a day; once in the morning and once at night. Brushing your teeth less than two times per day can often lead to serious dental problems.
3. Brushing Your Teeth Too Often: If you brush more than two times a day, you may actually be damaging your tooth enamel – so don’t overdo it. You can make an exception when you’ve eaten something acidic or sugary to remove the residual tooth-damaging elements; otherwise stick to the recommended amount.
4. Brushing Too Fast or Too Hard: Brushing too fast with too much pressure can also damage your gums and remove the enamel from your teeth. You don’t have to furiously scrub your teeth to clean them; instead brush gently and take your time. As long as you are brushing around your entire mouth for a full two minutes, your teeth will be clean.
5. Brushing in the Wrong Direction: Brushing back and forth can damage the tissue lining between your gums and teeth, leaving your gum line exposed to bacteria. The correct motion to brush your teeth is in small circles.
6. Brushing Your Teeth at the Wrong Angle: The recommended angle to brush your teeth is 45°. This is the best angle to clean both above and below the gum line.
7. Brushing the Same Spot Repeatedly: Make sure that you aren’t just focusing your brushing in the same areas of your mouth, and are instead brushing all of the surfaces of your teeth. Many forget to brush the backs of their front teeth and along the gum lines of their molars; these areas should be included in your daily brushing routine.
8. Using a Hard Bristle Toothbrush: Hard bristle brushes tear at your gums and remove tooth enamel. Soft bristle brushes are just as effective at cleaning your teeth without causing any damage.
9. Not Replacing Your Toothbrush Often Enough: The average life of a toothbrush is 3 months. After 3 months, the bristles will be worn out, making them less effective to clean your teeth.
10. Storing Your Toothbrush Incorrectly: Most people keep the toothbrush on the counter in the bathroom. This is an unsafe storage method because it exposes your brush to bacteria and other bathroom germs. Instead, store your toothbrush inside a closed cupboard or in a sealed container.

For more informative tips for a bright and healthy smile, talk to Dr. Marostica during your next visit to Tigard Family Dental. Our helpful staff will show you the best brushing techniques to keep your teeth in great shape!