Is Your Teeth Brushing Technique Harming Your Smile?

Here’s what you should know.

When you brush your teeth, do you exert a lot of force, almost as if to “scrub” them… or are you gentle with your tooth brushing motions?

This is a question that we believe doesn’t get enough consideration as it should. With that being said, here are our two main reasons why being gentle is the right way to go when it comes to teeth brushing:

That’s right – the protective surface layer of your teeth takes a beating when you brush too hard. And yes, the saying is true: once your enamel’s gone, there’s no getting it back. This is why you want to preserve your surface enamel through preventive efforts in all ways possible every day. Limiting your intake of acidic foods is another thing you should be doing to prevent enamel erosion.

Scrubbing with a toothbrush doesn’t just put the teeth at risk for wear – it does the same for gums, as well. Gum recession is a common yet largely preventable oral health problem – with gum disease and harsh tooth brushing techniques being the two main contributors.

What’s the proper brushing technique?

If you aren’t using an electric toothbrush to clean your teeth, make sure you’re using the right technique with your manual toothbrush. Use small, circular motions starting from the gum line and working your way up the teeth, cleaning every surface of each tooth… and apply the smallest amount of force possible. Trust us, it may not feel like you’re getting as effective of a clean, but you really are – and there have been studies to prove it.

Are your toothbrush bristles in good shape?

After prolonged use, typically after 3 months or so, toothbrush bristles will begin to fray – and this makes them much more abrasive and harsh on the teeth. Make sure you’re replacing your toothbrush or brush heads as soon as they show signs of wear… and oh, always use a toothbrush with soft bristles!

Share: