Many people often end up getting cavities and gum related diseases even though they brush every day. So, what exactly is going wrong in such cases? What is triggering these conditions even when there are healthy oral care habits? How to brush your teeth so that cavities and oral problems stay at bay?
The answer to this can have multiple dimensions to it. From not eating the right kind of foods to maybe not using the right kind of toothpaste or toothbrush to not brushing the right way, a lot of things can be responsible for such conditions.
Sometimes, guidance from a specialist dentist is of utmost importance in a lot of things to make it right, even if it is brushing the right way. So, here are a few general pointers that can right the wrong that you might have been doing all along and solve all your problems.
Brushing twice a day
We have multiple meals throughout the day. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacking in between if hungry. So, in a single day, our teeth and gums come into a lot of contact with food particles and a lot of munching is going on which causes these food particles to get into the puniest of spaces in between the teeth as well as the gum line.
So, is just brushing once every morning going to take care of all of that day’s munching and gobbling? Not at all. You are basically cleaning up the mess that you made out of the previous day. For all that time that you were sleeping, the food particles and bacteria got a lot of time to act.
Brushing before going to sleep makes sure that your mouth is clean and does not get the opportunity to build up plaque. Overnight plaque build up is drastically reduced and this always makes sure that bad breath and gum diseases are kept at bay.
Brushing not more than three times a day
Anything and everything is bad when overdone, right? Brushing is not an exception either. When brushing for more than three times a day, the gums can get badly damaged over time, bringing along a ton of problems. So, do not overdo it.
Brushing lightly
It is very important to brush very lightly and go easy on your teeth and gums. Brushing too hard can severely damage the teeth and gums. It causes the gums to recede and the teeth to loosen up, making it more prone to damage. Brushing lightly but effectively is the key.
Brushing for at least 2 minutes
The minimum time that it takes to efficiently clean the teeth is two minutes. So, make sure you are not brushing way below this recommended time.
Using toothbrushes with soft or extra-soft bristles
It is of paramount importance to make sure that you are not choosing your toothbrush from the ‘hard’ section of the rack. The harder the bristles are, the more is the risk of causing damage to the gums.
Changing toothbrush
Where some people go terribly wrong is to keep using the same toothbrush for 5-6 months. This is a very unhealthy practice. Change your toothbrush once every three months. If the bristles start to flare before three months, you might be brushing too hard. So, go lightly on your gums and teeth and change your toothbrush once every three months for the best results.
Also, one should definitely know the problems that not following these pointers can bring. These are:
- When brushing hard or using hard-bristled toothbrushes, gums recede. This makes the roots to get exposed and teeth to look very long.
- It also causes the gums to get terribly irritated and bleed. This can lead to infections.
- Staining of the tooth is another problem that comes along.
- Halitosis or bad breath is another major and common problem that is caused because of poor oral health care.
- Periodontal disease.
- Tooth sensitivity is triggered and accelerated.
- Wear and tear or abrasion of the teeth take place.