Brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once.
It’s pretty common to hear your dentist recite this mantra during your appointment. And it’s often repeated for good reason: it’s sound advice.
Keeping teeth and gums healthy is much easier when you follow a daily brushing and flossing routine. But there are times when patients tell us they’re trying to go the extra mile with their oral hygiene and we can see the effects of their enthusiasm.
The dark side of teeth cleaning
What we’re about to tell you isn’t easy for us dentists to say. It goes against everything we stand for, but at Keppel Dental, we’re not afraid to tackle tough dentistry topics. Even if that means saying things that are sometimes a little controversial. So here it is.
Brushing can be bad for your teeth.
There! We said it! It wasn’t easy. But now it’s out in the open it’s important we explain ourselves because this isn’t permission to skip brushing. It’s a chance to share what we know about the dangers of toothbrush abrasion.
What is over toothbrush abrasion?
This is the technical name for over brushing and affects teeth and gums. Abrasion happens when you:
- brush too hard
- brush too often
- brush too fast
- brush too long
- use a toothbrush with bristles that are too firm.
Receding gums and the loss of tooth enamel as a result of over brushing may cause teeth to feel more sensitive. In extreme cases, toothbrush abrasion weakens teeth, so chips and cavities are more likely.
Only small changes are needed in your oral health routine to avoid overbrushing.
3 Ways to avoid the risks of over brushing
1. Use a soft bristled toothbrush
Broadly speaking, the dental community agrees that soft bristles are better for teeth and gums. They’re as effective as firm and medium brushes but are less likely to damage the mouth. Especially when cleaning along the gum line, where gum recession from over brushing is a risk. The same is true about protecting the enamel on your teeth. If you’re an over-enthusiastic brusher, using a soft brush is less likely to wear away your natural layer of tooth enamel.
2. Time your brushing
Brushing teeth for longer won’t make them cleaner. The Australian Dental Association recommends brushing for around 2 minutes, twice a day. Set a timer on your phone or buy a 2-minute egg timer you can leave in your bathroom. As soon as the time’s up you can stop brushing.
3. Go lightly
Pushing firmly with your brush against teeth and gums doesn’t remove more plaque or bacteria. A sign that you’re probably applying too much pressure is if brush bristles splay outwards during clearing. This not only damages teeth but means you’ll need to replace your brush more often. A light touch is all that’s needed. Just enough that you can feel the brush moving over your teeth and gums.
If your teeth and gums are showing signs of over brushing, your dentist is likely to say something and offer some tips on how to improve your brushing technique.
Fixing damage caused by over brushing
There are treatments that can help your teeth recover from tooth abrasion. The best course of action depends on the type of damage and how severe it is.
For example, the advice for treating teeth that become sensitive as a result of over brushing may be to switch to a toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth and start using a soft-bristled brush. Not only will brushing feel more comfortable but it can help stop more tooth enamel from wearing away.
In more severe cases where holes in the teeth have appeared, your dentist may suggest a dental restoration treatment. This could mean getting a composite filling or glass ionomer to protect your natural tooth.
Treatment for receding gums is a little more substantial. Like enamel, gums that have worn away don’t grow back. The only way to lessen the appearance of gum recession is by having a gum graft. This is a relatively new procedure in the world of dental surgery.
Gum grafting involves removing gum tissue from another part of your mouth (usually the roof of the mouth) and attaching it to the area where the gum has receded. Healing may take a few weeks and a follow up appointment with your dentist to check the results of the graft is needed.
Banishing over brushing from your cleaning routine
The symptoms of over brushing teeth can be avoided by making small changes to how you clean your teeth.
- Use a soft toothbrush.
- Only brush your teeth for 2-minutes at a time.
- Use a light touch, the brush bristles splaying outwards is a sign of too much pressure.
If you feel your teeth and gums are already a victim of enthusiastic cleaning, then speak with your dentist or oral health therapist. They’re always happy to share advice on how to brush your teeth correctly.
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