Brush your teeth properly: 5 common mistakes in oral hygiene and how we avoid them
Do you think you've completed the tooth brushing game? Sorry, but it's quite likely that you're still not doing everything right. But don’t worry – with oursyou will soon be an expert when it comes to dental care.
It doesn't matter whether you scrub your teeth every morning and evening in a disciplined manner for at least two minutes or - like me - you tend to put it off again and again ("First drink this coffee. Then definitely!”),Until you forget: It seems like we could all use a little refresher when it comes to dental care.
This dentist makes you think: Do we perhaps make mistakes in dental hygiene every day?
And,may not be the first port of call for in-depth health knowledge. But in this case it's worth it, I promise. Because the following tips for dental care come directly from an expert who needs to know:
Dr. Anna Peterson is a dentist and lives in London. She uses TikTok to educate about dental hygiene - entertaining and easy to understand. But she is also refreshingly direct, for example when it comes to mouthwash. “If you use mouthwash after brushing your teeth, you promote tooth decay. So just leave it.” Okay, doc.
Why is she not a fan of mouthwash? The answer lies in the fluoride content: The trace element fluoride strengthens tooth enamel and reduces the damage caused by bacteria, thus protecting against the development of tooth decay.
In another video she explains: “The toothpaste you brush your teeth with contains a fluoride content of around 1450 ppm (parts per million). For mouthwash it is only 220 ppm. The concentration is much lower - and not enough to protect your teeth from bacteria. So if you brush your teeth and then immediately rinse with mouthwash, you are actually rinsing the highly concentrated fluoride right away - to replace it with protection that contains a significantly lower concentration.”That being said– rinsing with water has a similar effect.
Dr. Peterson makes it clear that she is not fundamentally against mouthwash. She even recommends it – but only to patients who really need it. Because: “Not every patient needs it.” And above all – she is very clear: “Not immediately after brushing your teeth.”
Dr. Peterson and her videos made us curious: What else are we doing wrong when it comes to dental care? We asked a few experts what mistakes we all make – and how we can avoid them.
5 mistakes when brushing your teeth – and how to do it right
1. You forget about the gums
A common mistake when brushing your teeth is focusing only on your teeth. Yes, we know – when brushing your teeth, the focus is usually on your teeth (where else?). But unfortunately that is not enough.
According to Caitlin Miller, head of hygiene and therapy at Bupa Dental Care, many people neglect the gum line - the transition zone between the tooth and the gum. “This causes plaque to build up at the gum line, where it can cause gingivitis (inflammation of the gums). This causes the gums to become inflamed and can occur when brushing, flossing orhard foods bleed,” she says. “It is important to brush your teeth in such a way that the gum line is not neglected. Hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and apply gentle pressure as you brush each tooth in a circular motion. Make sure to clean the entire tooth surface and reach the gum line with each stroke.”
2. You clean too aggressively
A lot helps a lot –Unfortunately, this (truism) wisdom does not apply when brushing your teeth. “If you brush too hard, you risk the gums receding. This in turn causes the teeth to become more sensitive and painful, and also increases the risk of tooth decay,” warns Miller. “It’s important to brush gently. Too much pressure, aggressive movements or hard bristles can wear away tooth enamel and damage both teeth and gums.”
Sam Jethwa, president of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, added: “Many people mistakenly believe that brushing extra hard will get their teeth cleaner. However, too much pressure can damage tooth enamel and damage gums. I recommend an electric toothbrush that warns when too much pressure is applied.”
Over time, brushing too hard or too often can weaken your teeth. “You should brush your teeth in small, circular movements rather than brushing back and forth over a large area,” advises Miller. “This technique slows down brushing, reduces pressure on teeth, and better cleans each tooth surface. Circular movements also make sense because our teeth are not straight, but slightly curved, and the bristles can reach the entire surface.” Speaking of back and forth...
3. You're cleaning in the wrong direction
Brush back and forth in straight lines? This may save time, but it doesn't clean your teeth effectively.
“It's important to brush your teeth in small, circular motions rather than back and forth,” says Miller. “Brush directly on the tooth and don’t miss the gum line. This is much more precise and gentle than brushing straight back and forth. Brush each tooth individually, using a systematic approach to ensure every surface is cleaned. It's best to use an electric toothbrush with medium or soft bristles and replace the brush head as soon as the bristles become brittle and spread."
4. You forget your tongue
Did you know that you should brush your tongue too? “If you don't brush your tongue or clean it with a tongue scraper, bacteria can build up that causes bad breath,” explains Jethwa. “Studies show that scraping your tongue is much more effective at reducing bad breath than brushing your teeth. If you use a tongue scraper, use only light pressure to avoid damaging the taste buds or causing bleeding.”
5. You floss without rinsing
Do you rinse after you floss? Or do you just throw the floss away and call it a day? Then you should definitely read more here. “You should flossbefore“Use it after brushing your teeth and then rinse your mouth with water to make sure you remove the loosened food particles,” recommends Jethwa. “Flossing is an essential part of oral hygiene because the toothbrush does not reach all the spaces where food particles can remain.” But be careful: avoid rinsing again immediately after brushing your teeth. “After brushing your teeth, you should spit out the toothpaste, but do not immediately rinse with water or mouthwash.” The German information center for caries prevention also recommends this. It says: “If you don’t rinse the toothpaste out with water after brushing but just spit it out, you have an advantage here.” This means the fluoride can stay on the teeth longer and work even more effectively.
This article was prepared with text passages and expert quotes from our GLAMOR colleagues in the UK.
