This three-part article series explains the 10 mistakes people commonly make when brushing their teeth or choosing the appropriate healthcare appliances.

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Welcome back to our three-part article series on the 10 most common toothbrushing mistakes patients
tend to make. In our previous article, the first installment of the series, we spoke to a cosmeticcosmeticcosmeticcosmetic dentistdentistdentistdentist
inininin SilverSilverSilverSilver SpringSpringSpringSpring, who warned us about the following brushing errors:
1) Choosing the wrong size toothbrush,
2) Using hard-bristled toothbrushes,
3) Not brushing for long enough (two minutes is the recommended time)
4) Not brushing frequently enough (three times a day is optimal)
We’ve still got another seven to cover, so without further ado...
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Too much of a good thing can actually be bad for you! While frequent brushing
is crucial in maintaining good oral health, brushing too frequently can be bad for
your teeth,” says a dental implants specialist in Maryland. “By brushing too
often - more than four times a day - you can actually cause recession of the gum
line and the hastened erosion of your dental enamel. This can expose the tooth
root and the softer, more vulnerable dentine underneath the enamel, which puts
you at a greater risk of cavities and tooth decay. It’s much better to brush
thoroughly for two minutes two to three times a day. If you are particularly
finicky about oral hygiene, try use an anti-bacterial mouthwash instead of
brushing more than three times a day.”

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Brushing technique is crucial,” the cosmetic dentist in Silver Spring. “You should align your toothbrush
bristles at a 45 degree angle to your gum line and brush using short, soft strokes. Long, vigorous strokes
can actually irritate the gums and lead to abrasions. Also, don’t use horizontal strokes; brush circularly or
vertically. Last, but not least, make sure you brush both the inner, outer and top tooth surfaces as well as
your tongue! The tongue is full of little hiding places for bacteria and is just as prone to accumulating
plaque as your teeth and gums.”
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People tend to begin brushing well and then end up getting lazy or losing patience. So, if you usually start
at a particular point in your mouth, chances are it’ll get a thorough clean while the rest of your mouth gets
neglected,” explain the experts of dentaldentaldentaldental implantsimplantsimplantsimplants inininin MarylandMarylandMarylandMaryland. We can actually see this differential
cleaning in the health of patients’ teeth. Starting in a different location every time ensures that all
quadrants of your mouth get an equal cleaning.”
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When brushing your teeth, it’s crucial that you spend as much time cleaning the outer surfaces as you do
the inner surfaces. Just because the outer surfaces are the ones people see when you smile doesn’t mean
that you should neglect the inner surfaces that press against the tongue,” says the cosmetic dentist in
Silver Spring. This area is the one that is most commonly neglected by patients and this neglect is evident
to us in the amount of plaque that builds up there in between visits.”
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To read more about the common toothbrushing mistakes Silver Spring residents make, stay tuned for the
final installment of this three-part article series.