Is It Possible To Brush Your Teeth Too Much?

You’ve heard it time and time again from parents, dentists, and dentist ads: Brushing your teeth is incredibly important. At least 2 times a day in the morning and evening, although brushing after every full meal is always great.

But, is it possible to brush too many times and how can that affect your teeth?

It can, and it could be causing you more harm than good.

How Over Brushing Hurts Your Teeth

Over brushing occurs when you brush your teeth for an extended period of time over 3 times a day. While generally it’s safe to brush your teeth lightly with a soft bristled toothbrush, there are several people who tend to be a bit brush-hungry and go overboard with their oral hygiene habits. Often these include people who insist on brushing every single time they consume a snack or even drink a small sip of soda and usually carry a toothbrush with them at all times.

Often called Toothbrush abrasion this can lead to receding gums and sensitive teeth if done excessively. It’s estimated that 10% – 20% of people have caused damage to their gums or teeth as a result of over brushing.

Weak enamel

Your enamel is the first line of defense for your teeth, protecting your dentin and tooth pulp from cavities and other bacteria. By brushing too hard or by using medium or hard bristles, you wear down this defense and ultimately allow bacteria and other acids to directly harm the teeth.

Receding gums

Irritating your gums can cause them to begin to recede, ultimately causing your teeth to be exposed to acid and bacteria and weakening the health of your smile. This is one of the other major problems of over brushing, ultimately leading many to prematurely lose their teeth as a result of their extreme dental hygiene practices.

To keep your gums clean all you need to do is give it a light brushing. This prevents any excessive damage to the gums while getting rid of any bacteria that can form along the root of the tooth. Avoid brushing too hard and simply allow the brush to do the work.

How To Properly Brush Your Teeth

It’s not necessary to brush your teeth hard at all. In fact, plaque is incredibly easy to remove and could be removed by simply wiping the tooth with a small rag. A simple 2 minute brushing with a soft bristled toothbrush is enough to cover all areas of the tooth and keep them clean from any acid or bacteria that could cause damage. Add in some flossing to remove any buildup of food that gets stuck between the teeth and you will have successfully kept your teeth clean of any plaque.

Forgot to brush one too many times and need some cleaning? Contact Lakeway Cosmetic Dentistry today for a cleaning and reclaim your healthy smile!