A lot of people brush their teeth like they were sanding an old piece of wood. That is considered brushing too hard and is also the most common blunder people make in their dental care routine, which may be harmful to the gums and teeth. It is crucial to know how you should brush and do it properly, otherwise, you could be harming your teeth and gums instead of promoting their health and function.
Results of Brushing Too Hard
Brushing too harshly wears out your gums. This exposes the neck of your teeth, which causes the region of the tooth not covered by the hard enamel to visibly expose the soft inner layer or dentin.
Dentin is extremely sensitive to heat and cold and is significantly more prone to bacterial deterioration once the gums recede as a result of incorrect brushing. The result is often permanent. Some effects include gum recession, enamel deterioration, loss of bone around the teeth, tooth decay, and sensitivity, particularly to heat and cold.
Purpose of Brushing
You should cleanse your teeth twice daily at minimum, and it is important to do it correctly. Brushing is used to eliminate plaque from your teeth and gums. Plaque is a soft accumulation of saliva, food particles, and microorganisms, which does not require brushing harshly to get rid of it. Simply aim at the gum line where plaque accumulates and brush in little circular motions and never back and forth.
Unless advised otherwise by the dentist, you should use a soft-bristled brush compared to a medium or hard-bristled brush. It is normally enough to brush twice daily unless you have braces or certain oral health conditions, but do overdo it since it can as well damage the gums.
You should handle your toothbrush gently and avoid brushing with a tight hand-held grip of the toothbrush. For any further inquiries regarding good teeth brushing techniques or dental care, pay a visit to our offices for further assistance and information.