4 Teeth-Cleaning Mistakes That Upset Your Dentist

Like most people, you probably think teeth-cleaning is straightforward. After all, doesn’t it just amount to regular brushing and flossing? How can you mess that up? The truth, though, is that it’s pretty easy to make dental hygiene mistakes when you’re not careful. Unless you pay close attention, thoughtless actions can become habits that ruin your oral health. Luckily, your dentist in Far North Dallas is here to keep that from happening. Look over these four common teeth-cleaning errors and ways to prevent them in the future.

You Don’t (or Rarely) Replace Your Toothbrush

There’s a good reason your dental checkups come with a free toothbrush. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), you need to replace said teeth cleaner every 3 to 4 months. It becomes less effective at fighting plaque and harmful mouth bacteria when you don’t.

Remember to look at your toothbrush closely as you near the 3–4-month mark. If its bristles are frayed and broken, you should throw it out.

It’s also vital to trash an old toothbrush after a cold, flu, or stomach bug. Germs can lurk in between its bristles and make you sick again.

You Rush Through Your Brush

The average toothbrushing time for most people is 45 seconds. If you don’t already know, this is more than a minute shy of the suggested time length. Dentists recommend that patients brush their teeth for at least two minutes per session.

Luckily, it isn’t hard to correct this tendency. You could try timing your toothbrush use with a stopwatch or smartphone app. Also, consider giving your kids a special toothbrush with a built-in timer. The latter kind can light up for 60 seconds for each row of teeth.

You Don’t Brush at Night

To properly care for your teeth, experts say you must brush your teeth twice daily. In particular, you should do so in the morning and at night.

Without nighttime brushing, oral bacteria that gathered throughout the day will keep growing. As a result, you’ll be more likely to have tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, and more.

You Choose the Wrong Mouthwash

Many types of mouthwash reduce plaque, prevent decay, and stop gum disease. Others, however, have alcohol that can dry up your saliva. That fact might not sound significant, but it certainly is for your teeth. Your saliva protects them from cavities, so less mouth fluid means weaker pearly whites.

During your next visit, ask your dentist what specific mouth rinses you should use.

As you can see, teeth-cleaning isn’t something to take lightly. Remember to avoid the above mistakes, so your smile stays white and healthy!

About the Author

Dr. Robert. E. Tafel is a dentist based in the far north of Dallas, TX. He and his team offer a wide variety of dental services to meet local families’ needs. To that end, they provide preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, as well as emergency tooth treatments. These procedures, furthermore, are top-quality thanks to relying on the latest dental technology. Dr. Tafel currently practices at Bear Creek Family Dentistry and can be reached at his website or by phone at (972)-490-1600.