Common Mistakes People Make With Their Dental Hygiene

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We all like to imagine we do everything right in terms of oral hygiene. At the same time, it can seem odd that our teeth and gums aren’t as healthy as we think they should be. That’s because there are a lot of common mistakes people make with their dental hygiene. We’ll go over a few big ones so that you know what to look out for.

Table of Contents

Not Brushing Long Enough

Brushing for the right amount of time is such an important part of dental hygiene. You need a full two minutes of brushing to ensure you get a thorough clean all over. Many people think that as long as they hit every tooth for even a moment, they’ll be totally fine. On the contrary, you need two minutes to make sure you’ve scrubbed everything off your teeth.

Brushing With Too Much Force

Yes, there is such a thing as brushing too hard. Some people think brushing as hard as they can is the best way to remove plaque and tartar buildup. However, this rigorous brushing can actually damage your teeth’s enamel lining. Prevent this by using a soft-bristled toothbrush and not scrubbing too hard while you brush.

Not Staying Hydrated

Hydration is a key element of just about every part your health, including your teeth and mouth. Drinking plenty of water can flush your mouth of excess food and bacteria. If you don’t drink enough water, you could experience regular bouts of dry mouth, which is the perfect environment for bacteria to spread and harm your teeth and gums.

Thinking Mouthwash Can Replace Flossing

A very common mistake that people make with their dental hygiene is replacing flossing with using mouthwash. Flossing isn’t an enjoyable activity by any means, but it’s immensely important. Mouthwash simply won’t get the most stubborn contaminants off your teeth the way you need it to. Using mouthwash is a good idea, but use it in addition to flossing regularly.

Forgoing Dental Checkups

Even if you take very good care of your teeth and you haven’t made any of these mistakes, you should still go see a dental professional on a regular basis. They’ll have the training and equipment to detect problems that might be invisible to you. They can also assess your bite and jaw to make sure there aren’t any problems that could come to haunt you later on.