Toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash…almost everyone has (or should have) these tools in their daily dental hygiene toolbox. And they all seem pretty self-explanatory, right? Surprisingly, many people don’t actually use them correctly in their oral health routines. Here are 6 common dental products that you may be using wrong:
1. Toothpaste
Yes, you read that right! Many people tend to use more toothpaste than they need for each brushing, which can lead to irritated gums. You should really only be using a pea-sized amount each time.
2. Interdental Brushes
If you don’t own an interdental brush, you probably should. They can help clean between your teeth and reach places where traditional brushes or floss can’t. Make sure you’re using the right size brush, and be sure to use it once per day.
3. Mouthwash
Using mouthwash too often can irritate your oral tissues, and even though it can help to kill bacteria, it can’t do so all by itself — so don’t mistake it for a substitute for brushing and flossing. Mouthwash should only be used once a day after you’ve already brushed and flossed.
4. Tongue Scrapers
Tongue scrapers are often used too aggressively. It doesn’t take too much pressure to remove the bacteria living on your tongue with a tool like this, so be gentle and careful not to damage any tissue while scraping away. It’s recommended to use a tongue scraper once per day.
5. Whitening Strips
While they may seem like a cheaper, DIY alternative at first, teeth whitening strips can cause damage that is far more expensive to fix than getting your teeth whitened at the dentist.
Damage is most likely to occur when you over-use these kinds of products, or use them incorrectly. Even if you do decide to go with the store-bought option, talk with your dentist first to make sure you’re doing it right.
6. Night Guards
Teeth-grinding and jaw clenching affects up to one third of adults in the U.S., but a good chunk of that population don’t own or use night guards. And it’s common to see those who do, wearing them incorrectly.
At your next appointment, ask your dentist about night guards and whether or not adding one to your daily dental routine would be beneficial. You could very well be taking a crucial step toward protecting your teeth from all that stress you build up throughout the day!
Taking care of our teeth is often brushed aside (pun extremely intended) as a quick part of our daily routines and often gets overlooked. As a result, we forget how important it is to pay attention to our oral health and use our tools the right way. But taking 5 minutes to refresh your understanding of how all the tools in your toothbrushin’ toolbox are used can make a big difference in your dental health over time.
Still have questions or want to learn more? Get in touch with us today.
