5 Common Oral Hygiene Mistakes

“To err is human,” wrote poet Alexander Pope 400 years ago. And it’s still true today. We all make mistakes, and we can only hope to learn from them. Your dentist at Alta Dental understands that no matter how hard each of us tries to do our best to maintain perfect oral hygiene, we’re only human. 

I’d like to list some of the most common mistakes our patients make and tell you how to correct them.

• Drinking problems: Soda, energy drinks, sweetened coffee and even fruit juices leave a sugary, cavity causing residue on your teeth. Water, especially if it contains fluoride, that enamel-building mineral, is your best bet.

• Brushing too hard. We applaud you for wanting to give your teeth a vigorous cleaning, but scrubbing them with a hard- or medium-bristled toothbrush can actually wear away the enamel — the tooth’s hard protective coating. A soft-bristled brush will rid your teeth of bacteria and food particles without damaging the enamel.

• Brushing too quickly: We know you’re in a hurry in the morning, but surely you can spare two minutes to properly remove plaque before it turns into tartar. Applying more pressure for a shorter period of time is not a substitute. And don’t forget to repeat the two-minute drill at least once more each day, especially at bedtime.

• Ignoring your tongue: if you’re not cleaning your tongue during your teeth-cleaning routine, you're leaving behind bacteria that can lead to plaque buildup. All you need is a tongue scraper, a spoon or even your toothbrush to do the job.

• Missing in action: If we haven’t seen you in a while, plaque and tartar may be building up on your teeth, and other oral health issues may be going undiagnosed. The American Dental Association recommends visits every six months for an examination and cleaning.

Our friendly staff at Alta Dental looks forward to seeing you. Please contact us today for an appointment!