Sophie Okolo, MPH

Taking good care of your oral health – your teeth and gums – as you will probably know, is extremely important to your overall health and wellbeing. However, so many of us are unknowingly doing it wrong! You may think that brushing twice daily, flossing, and scraping your tongue means that your oral health is A-OK, but that might not be the case, not if you’re making any of the following mistakes anyway!

1. Not using the right toothbrush

There’s a right kind of toothbrush? This may come as something of a shock to you, but yes, there really is a right kind of toothbrush. If you want to keep your teeth clean, while also avoiding doing any damage to your gums, then you need to use a really soft-bristled brush. Many of us brush way harder than we really need to or even should, and this can lead to gum recession and exposed nerves. This is not good because gums, unlike many other parts of the body, cannot regenerate – once they’re gone they’re gone and your oral health is permanently compromised as a result.

2. Brushing too hard

As I mentioned above, brushing too hard might seem like a good idea but it really isn’t. Gentle, but thorough brushing is all that’s required to dislodge plaque and other bacteria that could cause your teeth harm, so treat them with a light touch

3. Brushing top and bottom together

Do you tend to brush your top and bottom teeth at the same time? This is a big mistake, as the dental experts at Smiles By Mia, will tell you. Why is it so bad? Because when you do this, chances are you will miss the gum line, which is the most important part of the tooth to get, It’s where a lot of food and plaque collects and builds up, so it’s crucial you get to it. Instead, of trying to brush everything at once, use small, gentle motions to massage each tooth in circular motions, being sure to get behind the teeth and into the gum line.

4. Brushing right after eating

You may think that it makes sense to start brushing your teeth as soon as you’ve finished eating a meal or snack, but this is rarely a good idea. Why? Because you will simply be pushing the food remnants around your mouth, especially if they happen to be sugary or acidic. What can you do instead? Eat a piece of cheese to neutralize your mouth’s PH or try chewing sugar-free gum to produce more saliva, which will in effect “wash” your teeth. Once 30 minutes or so have passed, then you can think about brushing.