Looking after your teeth properly is so important. Healthy teeth not only make your smile more attractive and eating easier — they also have an impact on your general wellbeing. And the responsibility lies with each of us: everyone looks after their own teeth and can improve or worsen their condition accordingly. So invest a little time and effort in your teeth on a regular basis – they will certainly thank you for it.
The fact remains, however, that many people brush their teeth either too rarely, too briefly or with the wrong technique. Although dentists' recommendations on what is genuinely good for teeth and gums have changed somewhat over the years, they do not differ all that dramatically. Even so, myths about dental care persist — such as the rumour that chewing dental care gum can replace brushing. Is there any truth to this and other such claims? It is time to put an end to dangerous half-knowledge: here we explain the eight biggest mistakes in dental care. You may also like to read our guide on brushing your teeth correctly.
Mistake 1: Scrubbing too hard when brushing
The harder you brush, the cleaner your teeth get? That is simply not true! Be gentle when brushing your teeth. Anyone who attacks their teeth with too much force or bristles that are too hard risks wearing away the enamel and injuring the gums. You may well remember the TV advert showing a tomato being damaged by a toothbrush.
Incidentally, the ideal brushing pressure is around 150 grams – roughly the weight of an orange. Keep that in mind while brushing and try to scrub more gently – most people press far harder and thereby risk damaging the necks of their teeth.
Mistake 2: Circling instead of sweeping
Most people brush their teeth with circular motions, just as they learned at school as children. Yet this is not quite the right dental care technique – in fact, it can injure the gums and push bacteria and plaque underneath the gum line. Cleaning is even less effective if you scrub horizontally back and forth across the rows of teeth.
Instead, the rule is: sweep and jiggle vertically from top to bottom when brushing. These movements remove plaque most effectively while being gentle on the gums.
Mistake 3: Brushing immediately after eating
After acidic foods and drinks such as fruit or juice, you should not reach straight for your toothbrush. The acid attacks the tooth enamel, and brushing immediately afterwards effectively sands the softened enamel away. Instead, rinse your mouth with a glass of water straight after eating and wait 20 to 30 minutes before picking up your toothbrush. By then the enamel will have hardened again.
Mistake 4: Neglecting milk teeth
It is not true that milk teeth deserve less attention than permanent teeth when it comes to dental care. Although they will eventually fall out, they should be cared for just as diligently. Firstly, milk teeth are needed for chewing; secondly, a child's still-developing dentition can develop incorrectly if tooth decay sets in too early. Here too, the same rule applies: ideally clean the teeth after meals, and in any case before going to bed at night.
Mistake 5: Not replacing the toothbrush in time
After 3–4 months at the latest, it is time to dispose of a toothbrush. However, it is better not to go by time alone but rather by the condition of the toothbrush itself. As soon as the bristles change colour or shape, the cleaning result usually suffers as well. Some toothbrushes even have special colour indicators that show when a replacement is due. You can find out more in our article Which toothbrush is the right one?.
Mistake 6: Not brushing often enough or long enough
Teeth should be brushed at least twice a day, ideally three times. The longer the intervals between brushing sessions, the more time harmful bacteria have to colonise the mouth. In addition, each brushing session should last at least 2 minutes, ideally 3. Only then can all areas be cleaned sufficiently, and beneficial toothpaste ingredients such as fluoride have enough time to take full effect.
Mistake 7: "Unimportant" areas are barely brushed or skipped entirely
Many people concentrate mainly on the outer tooth surfaces that are always visible when brushing. But plaque and bacteria naturally need to be removed from the barely visible areas too. So make sure you also clean the chewing surfaces and the inner sides of your teeth thoroughly. The surface of the tongue is often forgotten as well — bacteria are particularly fond of settling there, and deposits can lead to bad breath. A professional teeth cleaning at the dentist is the ideal complement to your daily oral care routine.
