3 Teeth Cleaning Mistakes You're Making At Home

You may be brushing and flossing every single day, but that may not be enough to keep your teeth clean. That's because people often make mistakes when cleaning their teeth at home simply because they do not know any better. That's why it will help to know some common mistakes made so that you can clean your teeth the right way.

Mistake 1: Using Too Much Toothpaste

The amount of toothpaste that you use really depends on your age. For children under the age of three, all you really need to use is a smear of toothpaste no bigger than a grain of rice. Kids that are 3 and older should be using a small pea-sized amount of toothpaste. 

How much toothpaste should an adult use? You don't need to cover the entire bristles of the toothbrush as you see in ads for toothpaste. You can actually use the same amount as your child that is 3 and older. While there are some other factors that can determine how much toothpaste to use, you'll find that's the general guideline that will apply to most people. 

Mistake 2: Using An Electric Toothbrush Incorrectly

Have you made the switch to an electric toothbrush because it does a much better job than manual brushing? This is because an electric toothbrush is capable of producing hundreds of back-and-forth motions at the same time it takes you to do a couple. The mistake that people make is using an electric toothbrush like a manual toothbrush. 

When you use an electric toothbrush you want to gently rest the brush against your teeth and let the brush do all of the work. If you move the brush back and forth like a normal toothbrush you won't be getting the full benefits that an electric toothbrush can provide. It can also lead to gum recession due to the excessive motions against your gums.

Mistake 3: Flossing With A Sawing Motion

It's important to use the right motion when flossing because you do not want to cause damage to your gums. A common mistake made is when people use a sawing motion by running the floss back and forth across the teeth. This motion can really irritate the gums and cause problems over time. You always want to use an up-and-down motion while wrapping the floss around the tooth you are trying to get clean.  

For more information about teeth cleaning, contact a local company.