The rules that are supposed to protect us from tooth decay include avoiding sweets, brushing your teeth at least twice daily, preferably after each meal, replacing your toothbrush on a regular basis, and using additional products to maintain the health of your teeth and gums. Can you ever brush your teeth too much? Overbrushing can have the opposite effect, so use caution.
Tooth decay affects us. Regardless of where we reside or our level of wealth.
Some people start brushing their teeth excessively in the hopes that it will prevent them from developing holes in their teeth. They rely too heavily on dental advice to properly brush their teeth. The maxim “stronger is better” does not apply in this situation. Can you ever have too much dental care? Dentists say it’s not that uncommon, despite the fact that it seems difficult.
Scrubbing instead of brushing
Brushing too lightly will not help much in the fight against caries, because it will not remove food particles and plaque from the teeth.
However, brushing too hard can turn into scrubbing, which is also not good for your teeth.
Brushing for more than two minutes will not improve the health of teeth or gums. Excessive brushing can make them worse, as the enamel wears off with each brushing, which means that it is less protective of the tooth. This phenomenon is called abrasion.
Too-vigorous tooth brushing won’t make your teeth whiter or healthier. On the contrary, they turn more and more yellow as a result of the enamel’s thinning and the dentin’s emergence..
How not to overdo it with brushing your teeth?
Here are some simple tips on how not to overdo it with brushing and avoid the opposite effect to the intended effect:
- choose a brush with soft or medium bristles;
- many electric models are equipped with a pressure sensor that will turn off the brush when you press it too hard;
- look for a manual toothbrush with a flexible joint connecting the shaft to the head, which will reduce the pressure;
- ask your dentist or hygienist about brushing techniques – there are several. They rely mainly on brush-sweeping movements rather than horizontal brushing of the teeth;
- buy an hourglass or start a stopwatch on your smartphone. Washing should take 2 minutes. No shorter and no longer.
- do not brush your teeth immediately after eating acidic foods or drinking juice. The enamel at this time is more susceptible to damage. Wait at least half an hour for the saliva to restore its natural pH and provide minerals for reconstruction.
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