You brush and floss twice a day. You make regular trips to the dentist, and you always use mouth wash. You’d like to think that you take good care of your teeth.
That is until you’re told that you have cavities.
Apparently, you’re brushing too hard. You had no idea that your aggressive brushing technique could hurt you, but it can. It puts a lot of wear and tear on your pearly whites.
We can tell you what you’re doing wrong and help you change up the way you brush your teeth. Check out this guide to find out more.
Signs of Brushing Too Hard
Enamel is the hardest substance in your body, but that doesn’t mean it’s infallible. Brushing teeth too hard will wear on your enamel until you don’t have any more to work with.
That will leave your teeth vulnerable to decay and cavities. Your pearly whites will also become much more sensitive.
When you’re too aggressive with your brushing, it can cause your gum tissue to shrink. After a while, it will expose the roots of your teeth. Since your tooth roots don’t have anything to protect them, they’ll be more prone to decay, and sensitive to certain stimuli.
As you scrub away the enamel of your teeth, they may begin to turn a darker shade, as well.
The good news is that some of these issues can be reversed. Caldwell, Bills & Petrilli Dentistry can check out the extent of the damage and refer you to a specialist if need be.
Choose the Right Toothbrush
Want to know how to heal gums from brushing too hard? In most cases, it starts with choosing a new toothbrush.
The basic rule of thumb is to stay away from hard-bristled brushes. They can do more harm to your enamel than not.
Even medium-soft bristles can be too harsh. So, when in doubt, always opt for soft.
Electric toothbrushes are also a good choice because you won’t have to use any force. They do a lot of the work for you.
Practicing a Proper Brushing Technique
First of all, hold your brush with three fingers. Doing so will force you to use less pressure. Angle your brush to 45 degrees so it can get under your gums.
You don’t have to put a lot of pressure on your teeth to clean them. Gently glide the brush along the surface of your pearly whites instead. Trust us, it will be enough.
The last tip we have for you is to give yourself enough time to brush. If you try to rush through it, you’re bound to be more aggressive.
Change the Way You Brush
Brushing too hard can do about as much damage as not brushing at all. If you bare down too hard, you’ll wear away your enamel and leave your teeth vulnerable to cavities. Take care of your pearly whites by changing up your brushing technique.
For more tips that will help you keep your teeth in tip-top shape, visit the Health section of our blog.
