As humans, we are extremely fortunate over other living beings to be given extremely intelligent brains that have enabled us to get out of caves and enter homes of extreme luxury. However, unlike animals we have to perform certain daily activities like brushing our teeth with proper care, in order to exist in an healthy manner. While every one of us perform this simple activity daily, people who are not adequately aware about proper oral hygiene habits often make mistakes. Here are some common mistakes the modern day homo sapiens make when it comes to their oral health:
As humans, we are extremely fortunate over other living beings to be given extremely intelligent brains that have enabled us to get out of caves and enter homes of extreme luxury. However, unlike animals we have to perform certain daily activities like brushing our teeth with proper care, in order to exist in an healthy manner. While every one of us perform this simple activity daily, people who are not adequately aware about proper oral hygiene habits often make mistakes. Here are some common mistakes the modern day homo sapiens make when it comes to their oral health:
1. Brushing too much
You might think that brushing your teeth a lot of times will help you get shinier, whiter teeth but. However, brushing too much can erode your enamel and do more harm than good. The recommended time for brushing is 2 times a day for 2-3 minutes.
2. Applying excess pressure while brushing
People who have ignored their oral health for a long time, may tend to make up for lost effort by brushing their teeth too hard. This is a wrong approach as excess pressure may erode your enamel, making your tooth more susceptible to decay. Read more about
3. Brushing immediately after eating
Ideally, you should wait for some time to brush your teeth after a meal. Certain foods contain acids and brushing immediately after eating them can increase the risk of tooth abrasion. If you wait for some time, the saliva in your mouth will neutralise these acids. If you want, you can rinse your mouth with water.
4. Brushing only the chewing surfaces of the teeth
Brushing only the chewing surfaces of the teeth is another common mistake that a lot of people make. Food can get stuck anywhere and you must brush the inner, outer and the chewing surface of your teeth.
5. Not cleaning the tongue
Tongue too can be a breeding ground for bacteria and you must not ignore it. Rinsing your mouth is a good idea and you shouldn’t forget to use a tongue scraper. Read more for some tips on cleaning your tongue.
6. Using a wrong toothbrush
Using a toothbrush with hard bristles can spell doom for your oral health, even if you use the right brushing technique. Not only will it erode your enamel, it will cause damage to your gums too. Also, you should try different toothbrushes and choose one that complements the size of your mouth and teeth. Also, it is important that you change your toothbrush every 3 months.
7. Keeping your toothbrush unclean
Not many people will be able to buy a new toothbrush every day. Therefore, it is important to properly rinse it with water after brushing and ensuring that it dries.
8. Not flossing
You might brush your teeth properly, but the food and bacteria that gets stuck in between your teeth will not go away. Therefore, it is important that you floss once or twice a day to clean your teeth properly.
9. Not rinsing your mouth after eating
Rinsing your mouth with water immediately after eating will help dislodge the food particles that get stuck in your mouth. Additionally, it will help reduce acidity in your mouth and can also be helpful in preventing bad breath.
10. Not visiting a dentist regularly
It is important that you visit a dentist every six months as plaque that remains on your teeth forms a hard, flaky substance called calculus which cannot be easily removed with the toothbrush.
Originally published on www.thehealthsite.com
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