4 Oral Health Mistakes You Need To Stop Making

Dentist Blog

Oral health mistakes have been around for a long time, and it's simply because there are many different products available that supposedly help with oral health, as well as certain myths and misconceptions that circulate around oral health, as well. This is why there are many common mistakes, such as the following four that need to change:

1. Using Mouth wash: Of course, advertisements for mouthwash would lead you to believe that mouthwash is definitely something to incorporate into your daily oral health routine. However, using mouthwash actually doesn't have the right kind of effects on the mouth that's important for health. This is because mouthwash kills a lot of bacteria and your mouth actually needs certain amounts of good bacteria to stay healthy. This often dries out the mouth, which can lower the proper amount of saliva production. Saliva is needed for both keeping the mouth clean and for the process of digestion, as well. 
2. Brushing Hard: Of course, you would think that the harder you brush, the more bacteria and plaque you are scrubbing away, which is a good thing. However, you are actually causing damage to your teeth when you do this. It's better to brush gently since bacteria and plaque are easy to get rid of so long as you are following other oral health routines, such as visiting the dentist every six months and flossing. If you brush too hard, it can damage the enamel of the teeth, which is what protects the teeth from staining and other damages. 
3. Ignoring Pain: Even if you have tooth pain that is inconsistent, you shouldn't ignore it. It's important to get it checked out right away since some pain could be an indication that there is a possible cavity that is only sensitive when you eat certain foods or drink cold water. The sooner it's checked out and taken care of, the better. 
4. Brushing After Meals: While it might make more sense to brush after meals, it can actually cause more damage than good. This is especially true if your meal has consisted of acidic foods. That acid stays in the mouth for a certain amount of time after eating, so if you are brushing it around the mouth immediately after eating, you could be causing it to do damage to the enamel. 

When you avoid these four common mistakes, you are definitely less susceptible to problems in the future, including simple cavities. 

16 December 2017