Seven Dental Mistakes You Might Be Making And How To Fix Them
Healthy teeth and gums will brighten your smile
It’s been instilled in us since day one: brushing your teeth twice a day will help keep the dentist away. But it’s easy to go overboard on the brushing, fret about staining, or make silly – and potentially harmful dental mistakes.
To brighten your smile, experts share some of the common oral health mistakes you might be making – and how to fix them…
1. Not cleaning in between teeth – Dental Mistakes
“Brushing only cleans three out of the five tooth surfaces,” says Anna Middleton, founder of London Hygienist (londonhygienist.com).
“However, interdental cleaning with floss or brushes helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease, which can occur when food and plaque are left lodged between teeth.”
If you have the space between your teeth, Middleton says to opt for interdental brushes, and always use the biggest size possible – you may need more than one size.
“If your teeth are tight together, dental floss is recommended. Do this once a day, preferably at night and in front of the mirror.” And if you hate flossing, why not try a water flosser?
2. Only brushing the teeth and not the gums – Dental Mistakes
“Many of us forget to brush our gums when we brush our teeth,” says Middleton – but it’s crucial, “Because this is where plaque will sit”.
Her pro tip? “When using an electric toothbrush, place the bristles against the teeth at a 45-degree angle towards the gum line. Hold the handle gently with a light grip, and only apply light pressure. Glide the brush across your teeth and gums gently, allowing your brush to do most of the work.”
3. Not brushing long enough – Dental Mistakes
“Brushing your teeth is one of the most important tasks we do each day, but some of us don’t dedicate enough time to it,” says Dr Theo Sioutis, dental director of private healthcare firm My Healthcare Clinic (myhealthcareclinic.com).
“Rushing the job means you might miss surface areas – such as between the teeth or along the gum line, leading to plaque and bacteria build-up, and risking long-term problems such as cavities and gum disease.”