There are somethings that we have all been doing since we can remember, like brushing our teeth. But, has it ever occurred to you that maybe you aren’t doing it right? You may be surprised to learn that most of us make mistakes that can seriously affect your oral health. Did you know that there is a connection between oral health and heart disease? Yep! It’s not just about getting your pearly whites as bright and shiny as possible. It’s all about being your healthiest possible.

Electric Vs. Manual Toothbrush

Many dentists say that it isn’t as much the toothbrush but the brusher, however with the high tech brushes available today electric toothbrushes are designed to help the brusher be more effective. There was one study that showed that powered brushes had a positive effect on 80% of patient’s dental health.

Electric toothbrushes ensure that your brush strokes are consistently correct and can help balance out the right amount of pressure. Some can even give you feedback on making sure that all of your teeth were properly brushed and that you brushed for the correct amount of time.

(We really love the Oral-B 7000 Smart Series brush!)

And speaking of brushing for the correct amount of time……

Don’t underbrush…or over-brush.

The amount of time that you spend brushing is SO important. You should brush your teeth 3 times a day, but brushing twice is fully acceptable. You should also brush for 2 minutes, but not longer. It doesn’t take a lot of force to remove plaque, but if you press too hard you can very easily wear down enamel or . And you really don’t want to do that!

If your toothbrush doesn’t have a timer you can pick one up for just a few dollars. As far as monitoring pressure, this is where having a smart toothbrush comes in handy! Monitoring and making sure that I was using the right amount of pressure is a huge reason that I made the switch to a smart brush. I didn’t want my brushing habits to be the reasoning that the enamel on my teeth was wearing away!

Start brushing in a different spot

The same with just about anything else, we always start with gusto and by the end we can get bored and not as effective. By starting in a different place when you start brushing, you can make sure that the same teeth constantly get all of the A+ effort and attention.

Don’t do it….

Don’t you dare! Don’t skip out on following up your brushing with mouthwash and floss. They are really important and contribute (a ton!) to having a healthy oral health. Mouthwash can help to get rid of any plaque leftover from brushing, combat bad breath, and help to dissolve any food particles.

Flossing can ensure that there are no food particles left between teeth and caught around your gum lines. Also, plaque can build up between your teeth and brushes can’t always get there to remove it.

I know, I know. No one really likes to floss. The flossing string can be awkward. I really like using a water floss. It’s easy and super effective. (And if you or one of your kids have braces it makes cleaning them a breeze!) Also, if you have a history of gum problems either with yourself or in your family, water floss systems have been shown to be up to 50% more effective than traditional floss.

I also like to keep a pack of floss picks around. (Seriously, I keep a few in a baggie in my purse and car too!) I hate that feeling of going to the movies and having a piece of popcorn stuck in my teeth! A quick and easy swipe and I don’t have to worry about it!

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