Overbrushing: Is There Such a Thing as Too Much of a Good Thing?
If you’ve visited California Dental Group or any other dentist in the past, then you likely have heard the advice that you should brush several times a day. This is indeed essentially for healthy gums and teeth, but many people don’t realize that it is possible to overbrush. Known as “toothbrush abrasion,” brushing too much and / or too hard can make your gums recede and can cause your teeth to be sensitive.
Brushing too hard can lead to numerous problems
When you brush too vigorously, you’ll eventually wear down your teeth’s enamel. You can also damage your gums, which leads to them being pushed back, and leaves your root area exposed. Because the root area is so sensitive, you are likely to experience sensitive teeth.
Other issues caused by receding gums include an increase in the chances you’ll have gum disease, exposing the root of your teeth to bacteria that can lead to cavities. These issues, if untreated, can lead to you having to get fillings, a root canal, or even having a tooth extracted. In fact, the Wall Street Journal estimates that as many as 20% of people have damaged their gums or teeth from brushing too hard or too often.
Some people are more at risk than others
The people we’re most likely to see overbrushing issues from include people who are serious about their home oral care and those who use toothbrushes with medium bristles or hard bristles. There are other issues you don’t have control over too, like genetics, teeth grinding, or having had braces in the past.
Remember that brushing harder isn’t necessarily going to remove plaque. In fact, you could remove plaque – which is actually very soft – by just rubbing a rag over your teeth. The key is to be thorough when brushing – not aggressive. There’s no added benefit when you brush harder.
Tips for brushing your teeth the right way
First of all, we always recommend that you brush your teeth for at least two minutes, though three minutes is even better. You should also use a soft-bristled brush because this can help you reduce damage to your gums and it’s gentler on your tooth dentin. If you’re used to using a hard-bristled brush, even moving down to a medium-bristled brush can help.
You also want to make sure you’re following proper technique when brushing. Start by putting the head of your toothbrush so that the tips of its bristles are at a 45 degree angle to your gums. Then move your toothbrush in a scrubbing motion with short strokes. Do this a few times in each spot – never using a sawing motion. You want to use just enough pressure that you can feel the bristles against your gums. If you can see that the bristles of your toothbrush are getting squashed, then you’re brushing too hard.
If you have other questions about brushing, or you want to make an appointment for a professional cleaning, get a hold of California Dental Group today at (800) 407-0161.
