10 Toothbrushing Mistakes to Keep in Check

Brushing your teeth three times a day is not enough – especially if you’re doing it the wrong way. As if it’s not challenging enough to train kids to brush regularly, research says that all your effort in teaching your child might not exactly lead to cleaner and healthier pearly whites if you yourself are not aware that you are brushing your teeth the wrong way. 

We list down 10 misnomers in dental care and what you can do to correct them.

1. That any toothbrush will do.

There’s a reason why there are different kinds of toothbrushes in the market. You have your soft, medium or hard-bristled variety. You also have different sizes to choose from. You can even go so far as purchasing an electric toothbrush. The key though is finding out just what type fits you (more specifically, your mouth and teeth) the best.

First, pick the right size. How do you know what toothbrush size to use? If it’s not too big that you’re exerting extra effort just to open your mouth wide, explains Richard H. Price, DMD. To keep it simple, it should feel comfortable enough in your mouth.

As for the bristle type, The American Dental Association actually recommends a soft-bristled brush so it doesn’t traumatize the gums too much. 

There may be angled varieties in the market, as well as the electronic alternative, but it’s really more about your technique than this that matters.