Brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day is one of the best ways to help prevent cavities and gum disease. But if you aren’t using the right toothbrush, you could be working against your own oral hygiene efforts. The wrong toothbrush in Flower Mound, TX, could damage your teeth or allow plaque and bacteria to build up and cause decay. Unfortunately, many patients don’t think about the type of toothbrush they’re purchasing and often end up using the wrong kind.
Why the Right Toothbrush in Flower Mound, TX, Matters
If you use the wrong tools when working, you can’t expect your projects to come out the right way. The same is true for dental hygiene and care. Using the wrong type of toothbrush over time can cause your teeth to suffer damage or develop disease. While routine dental cleanings and exams can help, good at-home oral hygiene is the best way to protect your natural teeth. And if you don’t have the right toothbrush, you may be harming your teeth instead of helping them.
Enamel Loss and Gum Recession
One of the most common mistakes patients make when choosing a toothbrush is getting the wrong type of bristle. To many, the logical conclusion is that a harder bristle type will be better at removing plaque and tartar. The truth, however, is that removing bacteria is more about the technique and duration of brushing, not the intensity. In fact, hard bristle brushes can oftentimes be too harsh, leading to the wear down of enamel on your teeth or harming your gums. Choosing a soft or medium bristle brush is usually the better choice to clean your teeth and protect them from damage.
Missed Sections
No matter how attentive we are when brushing our teeth, it’s possible to miss hard-to-reach places if we don’t have the right brush. Patients who have crowded teeth or who can’t open their mouths very wide may need a toothbrush with a special-shaped head. Smaller brush heads, for example, are great for helping you clean the backs of your molars. Brushes with longer bristles are usually better at cleaning between teeth that are too close together or overlapping.
Comfort
Brushing your teeth for two minutes straight can seem like a chore on its own. But if you are comfortable while brushing, it can be even harder to make sure you stick to the time and properly clean your teeth and gums. Toothbrushes come in a variety of weights and handle styles. It can be difficult to know from the packaging alone if a toothbrush is going to be comfortable or not. But if it isn’t, it’s a good idea to try a new brush rather than force yourself to put up with it any longer.
Having the right toothbrush is crucial if you want to properly clean your teeth at home and help prevent decay or disease. If you’re not sure what kind of toothbrush is right for you, call Flower Mound Dental at 972-640-7891 to schedule a consultation. After examining your bite, your dentist can help you decide on the right toothbrush for your oral hygiene.