Aggressive Toothbrushing Can Lead to Serious Dental Damage
The entire team at South Ogden Smiles believes proper preventative care is a cornerstone of great dentistry. While we offer state-of-the-art restorative dentistry procedures, it's always ideal to avoid the need of restorations altogether if possible. That's why brushing and flossing are both so important.
Sometimes, however, people may be doing unintentional damage to their smile simply by brushing their teeth. Let's take a moment to explain why aggressive brushing is bad, and offer some insight into better oral hygiene practices.
There's a Wrong Way to Brush Your Teeth
It may be a surprise, but there is a wrong way to brush your teeth. If you brush your teeth so aggressively that it causes your gums to bleed and your teeth to feel sore, you're going about oral hygiene the wrong way. Even if you're brushing after every meal, doing this to yourself is more harm than good.
Damage to Your Gumline and Gum Recession
Brushing your teeth too aggressively can result in serious damage to the gums. When your gums are continually damaged, this can lead to the loss of gum tissue, exposing the roots of your teeth in the process. This causes tooth sensitivity, a greater risk of tooth decay, and even a higher chance of root canal infection.
Damage to Your Tooth Enamel
Your gums aren't the only thing that can be harmed by aggressive brushing. It's possible to cause serious wear and damage to the enamel of your teeth as well if you're brushing too hard. Wearing down the tooth enamel makes your teeth far more susceptible to serious damage and decay, and also increases your risk of fracturing your teeth.
Use a Soft-Bristled Toothbrush
A soft-bristled toothbrush is a great option for protecting your teeth and gums from serious harm. A toothbrush with soft bristles is less abrasive to hard and soft tissues, which means it's better for your smile overall.
Be Gentle Yet Thorough
When you brush your teeth, be sure to be gentle the entire time. Vary the movement of your toothbrush to help cover all the surfaces and clean all the nooks and crannies of your smile. Simple adjustments like these can promote lasting dental health and wellness for years and years to come.
A Word on Aggressive Flossing
As you can imagine, similar advice applies to flossing your teeth. Be sure to be gentle when using floss. Avoid snapping and sawing down on your gumline, and instead consider how to be delicate while cleaning your teeth with floss.
Visit Your Dentist for Routine Checkups
While regular brushing and flossing (the right way) will help you prevent tooth decay and gum disease, it's of the utmost importance that you visit your dentist twice a year for regular checkups and cleanings. This professional attention can help address more serious dental health issues you may not be able to address at home.
Contact South Ogden Smiles
For more information about good oral hygiene and how we can help you have a healthy and beautiful smile, be sure to contact an experienced cosmetic and restorative dentist today. The entire team here at South Ogden Smiles looks forward to your visit and discussing these matters with you in greater detail.
