toothbrush

Tooth brushing Mistake No.10: “Not Changing the Toothbrush Often Enough”

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tooth

Not Changing the Toothbrush Often Enough

Many people have heard folks claim, almost boastfully, that they can’t remember the last time they changed their toothbrush. This is not only gross but unhygienic, especially for a person who wears braces. Even a person who wears Invisalign, where the trays can be removed for oral hygiene, need to change their toothbrushes regularly.

The fact is that whenever a person brushes their teeth the toothbrush picks up all sorts of bacteria, viruses, and pathogens. Some of these are able to live on the bristles for weeks, and even if they don’t normally cause illness they can lead to infection if they enter a lesion in the mouth. Ideally, a person should change their toothbrush every day, but that’s just not practical for most people. Instead, our orthodontist recommends that:

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Tooth brushing Mistake No.9: Not Letting the Toothbrush Dry

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mcdermott-tbm9Not Letting the Toothbrush Dry

Brushing our teeth is so common that we seldom think much about it. We put a dab of toothpaste on the bristles and brush, then return the toothbrush to its storage place. While it may seem that toothbrushes require little care, the truth is that your toothbrush should be dry when you put it away. Allowing it to be stored while damp encourages the growth of bacteria, which will then be applied to your teeth at the next brushing. Those who wear braces for orthodontic treatment, even Invisalign, which is nearly invisible, must be extra careful to brush safely, as wired teeth are harder to clean, giving bacteria in hard-to-reach areas an extra boost to grow harmful organisms. If your orthodontist hasn’t already explained how to dry your toothbrush, here are three suggestions.

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rinse

Tooth Brushing Mistake No.8: “Not Following Up With a Rinse”

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It may be hard to believe, but there are mistakes in brushing your teeth that can have a negative impact on dental health. The mistakes are learned in childhood and keep getting repeated until proper oral hygiene is demonstrated and enforced. Sure, that sounds tough, but it is necessary to help keep teeth healthy for a lifetime. A common mistake is not rinsing after brushing, and it includes more than just a water rinse.

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Toothbrushing Mistake No.7: “Skipping Inner Tooth Surfaces”

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tooth brshing

Skipping Inner Tooth Surfaces

When you brush your teeth, it is just as important to brush the inner surfaces to remove food debris that can turn into hardened plaque. If you can’t remember to brush your teeth’s inner surfaces, then begin by turning your toothbrush to the backside of your teeth first before cleaning the outer surfaces.

Make Sure to Brush the Inner Surface of Each Tooth

When you visit an orthodontist, they will notice right away that you have not been brushing the inner surfaces of your teeth because there will be a buildup of tartar on your teeth. Failing to remove plaque from the backs of your teeth while you are wearing Invisalign aligners or braces will lead to having bad breath or gingivitis. Straightening

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brushing

Toothbrushing Mistake No.6: “Starting In the Same Place Each Time”

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Starting In the Same Place Each Time

It is important for you to brush your teeth at least twice each day, but experts recommend beginning to brush in a different location each time. When you put toothpaste on a toothbrush, most of it remains on the first tooth that you begin to brush. This is giving the same tooth a more thorough cleansing with the fluoridated toothpaste to prevent the decay that leads to cavities. Unfortunately, the other teeth inside your mouth are receiving less fluoride, and these teeth are more likely to develop cavities.

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Tooth Brushing Mistake No 5: Not Brushing Correctly

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Not Brushing Correctly

Having a mouth full of healthy teeth is important for everyone, no matter what your age. Whether you have issues with the alignment of your teeth that require you to see an orthodontist for braces or Invisalign, brushing your teeth properly is absolutely essential. Many kids make mistakes by improperly brushing their teeth, which leads to other problems, like tooth decay. Others may brush too aggressively, which leads to damage in the mouth.

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Tooth brushing Mistake No.4: “Brushing Too Often or Too Hard”

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Brushing Too Often or Too Hard

Getting braces like Invisalign is one of the best ways to enhance and protect your smile, providing a lifetime benefit. However, some people with dental hardware get over zealous in caring for their teeth during orthodontic treatment. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Don’t overdo it

Everyone should brush daily with appropriate equipment like a clean toothbrush and dental floss. However, you don’t need to spend five or ten minutes at it. Dentists and orthodontists often recommend brushing for one to two minutes at a time. Check with your orthodontist to find out his or her recommendation for brushing while wearing braces.

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Tooth brushing Mistake No.3: “Not Brushing Often Enough or Long Enough”

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brushing teeth

Not Brushing Often Enough or Long Enough

Brushing teeth regularly can be challenging for anyone. Brushing after getting braces can be even more difficult due to the intricacies of working around dental wiring like Invisalign to remove all debris between teeth and under the gumline. The following tips may help.

Ask the orthodontist

Your orthodontist or office staff can provide information on how to safely and comfortably brush your teeth while wearing Invisalign and other dental brace hardware. They can also show you how to clean your teeth correctly with an office demonstration. You don’t have to use rough or hard strokes to brush your teeth. A gentle sweeping motion is usually adequate.

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bristles

Tooth brushing Mistake No.2: “Not Picking the Right Bristles“

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tooth brush bristlesNot Picking the Right Bristles

A surprising number of people don’t know that the type of toothbrush bristles they brush with can have an impact on their oral health. When their old toothbrush wears out, they simply toss it, go to the store, and grab another that doesn’t cost too much. But ask any orthodontist, and they’ll say the type of toothbrush bristle matters.

Modern toothbrush bristles are made out of nylon. An orthodontist would recommend toothbrushes with soft bristles. Some people balk at this because they believe that toothbrushes with medium or firm bristles do a better job of getting rid of debris between the teeth. Though this may seem true, the trade-off is that firm bristles can hurt a person’s gums and the other soft tissue of the mouth.

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Tooth brushing Mistake No.1: “Not Using the Right Toothbrush”

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Not Using the Right Toothbrush

Brushing your teeth is a simple and straight forward process, right? Not so. There are dozens of mistakes that can lead to a bad tooth brushing job. This means you’re running the risk of more cavities and plaque. The biggest mistake? Not using the right toothbrush. But what makes a toothbrush wrong?

Hard Bristles

Bleeding gums? If you’re picking up the floss for the first time in a month because of a pending orthodontist appointment, that’s no surprise. However, if you brush every morning and every night and your gums are still bleeding, you’re using the wrong toothbrush.

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