It’s a New Year and time to update some of those old habits. Let’s discuss a few brushing habits to break in 2017.
- Keeping your toothbrush for too long.
Make a resolution to change your toothbrush with each season of the year. Did you know that the average life of a toothbrush is 3-4 months? Frayed and broken bristles won’t keep your teeth clean and germs and bacteria can harbor in old toothbrushes.
- Brushing too quick
2 minutes, twice a day. Most of us fall short – the average is 45 seconds. A timer is a great way to keep track of those 2 minutes or humming a favorite tune.
- Brushing too hard
Be gentle and guide your toothbrush to do the work. Brushing hard can wear down the outer layer of your teeth and damage your gums. Gentle brushing is all that is needed to remove food and plaque from your teeth.
- Eating and drinking right before brushing
Waiting 30 minutes after eating or drinking before brushing is recommended, especially if you have had something acidic like lemons, grapefruit or soda. Drinking water or chewing sugarless gum can help clean your mouth while your waiting to brush.
- Storing your toothbrush
Keeping your toothbrush in a closed container can cause germs to grow. Keep your toothbrush upright and an opportunity to air dry. Also, keeping your toothbrush separate from others can help reduce the spread of bacteria.
- Hard bristle toothbrush
Same with brushing too hard, bristle that are too hard can damage your outer layer of your teeth or damage your gums, which may cause sensitivity while drinking or eating cold foods. Soft bristles are the way to go.
- Brushing Technique
Technique, technique, technique. Get the best brush with these steps- place your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle to the gums. Then, gently move the brush back and forth in short, tooth wide, strokes. Next, brush the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces of the teeth. Finally, to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make several up-and-down strokes.
Happy Brushing!