Brushing your teeth is a seemingly simple part of your daily routine. However, even if you’re a conscious brusher, doing any of the following things could be causing your teeth more harm than help.
Multitasking While Brushing
Are you one of those people who checks their emails or scrolls through social media while brushing? If so, your dental health could be paying the price. Being distracted while brushing means that you are more likely to miss many of the surfaces that you need to hit while brushing. Skipping flossing means that you miss up to 40% of the surface of your teeth; pair that with distracted brushing, and you may miss most of the surfaces you need to reach.
Avoiding X-Rays
If you manage to finagle your way out of x-rays during each dental visit, then you are doing a disservice to your teeth. Some people are skipping x-rays because they fear that the radiation could cause cancer. The American Cancer Society has noted that dental x-rays do not necessarily cause tumors. In fact, dental x-rays are necessary for a comprehensive oral health exam. Most importantly, they can detect many things that are undetectable on a visual exam.
Improperly Storing a Wet Toothbrush
If you are a frequent traveler, then you might be guilty of improperly caring for your travel toothbrush. Be careful—storing your wet toothbrush in a travel case allows more bacteria to grow! Make sure that your bristles are dry before storing it away in an enclosed case.
Reaching for the Wrong Mouth Rinse
Not all rinses are made the same! Take a second to read the labels and make sure that your mouthwash is doing all that it can for your mouth. Take note of which bottle serves more purpose than to freshen your breath. A rinse that contains fluoride that can also help reduce gingivitis, cavities, and plaque is the way to go! Your oral health will thank you.
