Everyone knows of the importance of brushing your teeth twice a day. However, the way you brush your teeth is just as important as the frequency. This is especially true with children who don't have a lot of experience brushing their teeth. Here are some ways that you may have been brushing your teeth incorrectly that you may not be aware of.

Using The Wrong Toothbrush

When shopping for a tooth brush, you may notice that they come in various different firmness levels. It is always best to use a soft bristle toothbrush for your teeth. It is gentle on your gums and help the bristles bend and get into the pockets along the gum line. Why are hard bristle toothbrushes even made then? It's simply because people buy them, and if there is a market for them, the toothbrush manufacturers will make them.

Brushing Too Hard

It is possible to brush your teeth too hard, no matter what kind of toothbrush you use. Scrubbing your teeth really hard doesn't get them any cleaner, since it can actually lead to gum recession by wearing away the gums. You should only be applying enough pressure to massage your gums with gentle pressure, since anything harsh is going to lead to problems. Electric toothbrushes often have a pressure sensor on them, which will alert you if you are applying too much pressure.

Missing Parts Of Your Teeth

It's really easy to miss spots when brushing, with there being spots that people commonly miss or do not give enough attention to. One place where plaque tends to build up the most is behind your front teeth, because people often miss it because of the angle that they need to fit the brush in. Another commonly missed spot is behind the rear molars, which is a surface that plaque can get trapped behind because it's difficult to get the toothbrush into that tight space.

Not Brushing For Two Minutes

Two minutes is probably a lot longer than you think it is, which is why many people do not brush for the proper amount of time. If you tend to stop brushing early, it can help to switch to an electric toothbrush that has a timer. If you like your manual toothbrush, you can put a timer on your bathroom sink to let you know when the two minutes is up. Brushing your teeth is only going to be effective if you do it long enough to get rid of the plaque, so make sure you are brushing for the right amount of time.

Reach out to a children's dentist to learn more.

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