8 oral hygiene mistakes you didn't know you were making

Time to brush up on your dental hygiene knowledge!

It’s tempting to think that a simple, quick brush of your pearly whites is all you need to keep your teeth in good shape. But if that’s all you do for your smile, you might be in for some surprising problems with your teeth.

We asked our Brisbane city dentists, Dr Andrew Teakle and Dr Nicholas Yee, to share their thoughts on the eight most common mistakes people make with their oral health. 

1.Not brushing long enough

In today’s time-poor society, it’s tempting to simply give your teeth a quick once-over with your toothbrush and think that dental decay will stay away. It’s a big mistake to make, says Dr Teakle.

“Brushing your teeth carefully morning and night, for at least two minutes, is crucial if you want your teeth to stay healthy,” says Dr Teakle. “Take care to gently polish all three faces of each tooth, to make sure you remove all the plaque from the teeth surfaces.”

2. Tossing the dental floss

It’s important to remember that brushing alone won’t get rid of all decay-causing bacteria from your teeth. Bacteria love to hide in the tight gaps between your teeth, and your toothbrush simply can’t reach them.

“The old saying, ‘You don’t have to floss all your teeth – just the ones you want to keep!’ still has a lot of truth,” says Dr Yee. “Make the time to floss all your teeth once a day, to reach all areas of your teeth and prevent tooth decay.”

3. Brushing your teeth too hard

Though you might think that getting rid of harmful bacteria calls for hard scrubbing with your toothbrush, in fact this is one of the worst things you can do. Brushing too hard can cause your gums to bleed, and even damage the irreplaceable enamel of your teeth.

“Plaque on your teeth is quite soft, and doesn’t need heavy scrubbing to be removed,” Dr Teakle says. “Choosing a soft toothbrush and gently using circular motions over the whole surface of your teeth is all that’s needed to fully remove plaque.”

4. Choosing the wrong toothpaste

It’s estimated that one in eight Australians suffer from sensitive teeth. If you’re one of them, it’s important to make sure you choose a toothpaste that’s especially designed for sensitive teeth.

If you don’t, you’ll probably find yourself subconsciously brushing for less than the recommended time, which can mean plaque builds up and oral health problems begin to take hold.

5. Consuming soft drinks

Soft drinks are one of the most harmful substances for your teeth enamel. They’re full of sugar (which bacteria just love to feast on) and are very acidic too.

And if you think diet colas are a better choice – think again! They’re just as acidic, and studies show diet soft drinks can be twice as addictive as standard soft drinks. That means you tend to drink twice as much – and damage your teeth accordingly.

Instead, opt for drinks that contain less sugar and harmful acid, such as milk or of course water. Not only will your teeth thank you – your overall health will benefit too!

6. Eating chewy or sticky lollies

It’s a sad fact for those of us with a ‘sweet tooth’ – sticky, chewy lollies such as toffees are one of the very worst foods for the health of your teeth.

Dr Yee points out, “Sticky lollies are very difficult to fully remove from your teeth by brushing. So they tend to ‘stick around’ for longer, giving harmful bacteria a feast and destroying your teeth for many hours after you’ve eaten them.

And it’s not just tooth decay that lollies can be responsible for. “Fillings, crowns and even teeth can be pulled out by chewy lollies,” says Dr Teakle. “I’d suggest leaving them on the supermarket shelf, and choosing healthier snacks such as carrot sticks, celery, or cheese instead.”

7. Smoking!

Most people today understand the severe health consequences of smoking. And as well as your overall health, your oral health can suffer significantly too.

Smoking and using tobacco can cause stained, yellow teeth, bad breath, tooth loss and gum disease. It can even affect your sense of taste, and most seriously, cause oral cancer.

“All the Wickham Terrace Dental team will do what we can to encourage you to quit smoking,” says Dr Yee. “Without kicking the habit, maintaining your oral health over the long term becomes much more difficult.”

8. Putting off your regular visit to the dentist

It’s understandable – we’re all so busy these days, we think we don’t have time for a trip to the dentist. But this is one of the biggest oral health mistakes you can make.

“Preventive dental care is one of the best ways to ensure your continued good dental health,” Dr Teakle says. “Our team will monitor the health of your teeth and gums, and treat any small problems straight away, before they become more serious.”

The Wickham Terrace Dental team will also professionally clean your teeth to remove the hard calculus that builds up over time, which your at-home brushing can’t remove. With regular preventive dental care, you can avoid the need for costlier treatments in future such as root canal therapy, periodontal surgery, or even teeth extractions.

The Wickham Terrace Dental team are always happy to give you the tips you need to keep your teeth and mouth in great shape. Call us today on 07 3831 3031 to arrange your preventive oral health checkup in our Brisbane CBD dental practice.