5 misconceptions about brushing teeth

Many people think that brushing teeth harder is cleaner, but in fact it can easily damage gums and cause tooth wear.

Illustration: Menshealth.

Doctor Tran Van Thanh, a specialist in Dentistry, Tam Tri Saigon General Hospital, pointed out some common mistakes people make when cleaning their teeth as follows:

Brush your teeth hard

Actually, brushing your teeth does not require much force. The habit of using too much force when brushing your teeth can easily damage your gums and erode the tooth neck. Therefore, you only need to brush your teeth with moderate force, using the right method, and brushing evenly on all sides of your teeth.

Ignore the interdental area and plaque

Regular brushing only cleans the surfaces of the teeth. Food remains in the spaces between the teeth. This is the cause of tooth decay. Therefore, after brushing, pay attention to cleaning the spaces between the teeth with dental floss. A common dental problem is that plaque is not cleaned regularly, and over time it will form tartar. This is where bacteria accumulate, causing tooth decay and gingivitis, which can cause periodontal disease, bad breath, etc. It is best for everyone to have their teeth examined and scaled at least once every 6 months.

Brush your teeth quickly

Due to habit or lack of time, many people often brush their teeth too quickly, which will not clean all the food left on the teeth, which is very dangerous. It is recommended to brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes. Then use dental floss to clean the food between the teeth and then rinse your mouth with clean water or mouthwash.

Use toothbrush for a long time

"How often should you change your toothbrush?" This does not necessarily have to be on schedule. However, doctors advise against using a toothbrush for too long, as it will not clean properly and will also harm your teeth and gums. Usually, when the bristles are frayed and no longer elastic, you should replace the toothbrush, on average every 3 months.

Ignore bleeding gums

When the gums bleed, there is definitely a gum-related disease such as trauma, blood disease, the most common is gingivitis due to tartar. Doctors advise everyone to go to the doctor to find out the cause when brushing teeth, rinsing mouth to treat early. Do not ignore bleeding gums because if left for a long time, the disease will become more serious, more difficult to treat and more expensive.

According to VNE