The part of your teeth you’ve been forgetting to brush
Like so many things in life, brushing your teeth is a matter of quality over quantity. There’s no point in brushing your teeth four times a day if you’re doing it the wrong way.
Jessica Hilburg, DDS and associate dean for clinical affairs at the NYC College of Dentistry, was recently asked by the Huffington Post about the most-common errors people make when they give their mouth the old once-over.
"Sometimes people forget to brush the insides of their teeth, the surfaces that face the tongue and the palate," Hilburg said. "Sometimes people forget these areas because we don't see them when we look in the mirror. Food and plaque can buildup in these areas so it's just as important to brush there as it is on the front of our teeth where we can easily see."
Hilburg added not brushing your teeth long enough or using the wrong amount of pressure while brushing your teeth is equally incorrect and can ultimately be damaging.
"Applying too much pressure while brushing could damage gums and be abrasive to the teeth," she said. "Applying too little pressure while brushing just isn't as effective and will not remove the plaque as well as using gentle pressure. (Also) just rubbing the toothbrush back and forth in long strokes will not do as good a job as the short strokes because the short strokes allow you to get in between the teeth much better."
She added, "The 'right amount of pressure' is pressure that feels comfortable, does not crush the bristles of the toothbrush (too much pressure) and of course leaves your teeth feeling and looking clean."
What are your thoughts?
Image: Getty