Oral Hygiene Routine Mistakes To Avoid

cartoon man brushing teethUnlike toddlers, adults have one set of teeth. Therefore you must take care of your teeth by keeping an effective dental and oral hygiene routine. Good oral hygiene is beneficial for preventing and restoring damage to the tooth enamel.

However, there are rules to follow when implementing your oral hygiene routine. These rules will prevent you from further damaging your teeth, enamel, and gums.

Signs like toothaches, tooth decay, enamel erosion, bad breath, and sensitivity are common symptoms of underlying dental diseases. If you’ve experienced a high prevalence of any of these, consider booking a consultation with a dentist in Naples, FL.


With that said, here are five oral hygiene routine mistakes that you must avoid.

Inadequate Brushing

The removal of food residue, plaque, and bacteria is the common reason humans brush their teeth. According to dental experts, it takes about two to three minutes of brushing or flossing to remove these particles from the tooth surface.

Unfortunately, most human beings do not brush their teeth for more than a minute. This common mistake is one of the primary reasons your dental routine may be ineffective.

Using The Wrong Toothbrush

Apart from oral consumption of acidic food and drinks, using a hard-bristled toothbrush is the leading cause of enamel degradation.

Enamel is a thin tissue layer that protects your teeth from decaying, cracking, or chipping. Without this protective layer, you will experience tooth sensitivity and tooth discoloration.


Rather opt for a soft-bristled toothbrush instead of a hard-bristled one. It is capable of cleaning your teeth adequately, but it also helps preserve your tooth enamel.

Brushing Teeth Immediately After Eating

Although many dental experts recommend brushing your teeth after a meal, they do not mean you should do it immediately. Brushing your teeth after a meal helps you get rid of the acidic or food residue left by the food you just ate.

However, brushing your teeth immediately after eating may cause you to further rub in the acid instead of removing it. Therefore, dentists recommend brushing your teeth roughly 45 minutes after a meal.

What you can do immediately after eating is rinse your mouth with natural water to remove some of the acid left by the food.

Brushing Teeth Too Hard

This may sound counterintuitive, but brushing your teeth too hard is a bad trait that you should avoid. Exorbitantly brushing your teeth can cause significant and permanent damage to the tooth enamel.

A compromised layer of tooth enamel will then lead to increased dental problems such as tooth sensitivity, decay, and discoloration.


Keep in mind that the key to brushing teeth is quality over quantity. It is not about how hard you brush your teeth; it is about how diligently you do it. Take the time to brush your teeth slowly and gently.

Toothbrush Storage

One of the most overlooked aspects of oral hygiene is how you store your toothbrush. Making mistakes when storing toothbrushes can have detrimental effects on your overall oral hygiene. Adequate toothbrush storage requires a dry and upright platform to place the brush.

Following an oral hygiene routine is an excellent way to preserve and protect your teeth. However, making common mistakes like those mentioned above will only lead to further decline in your oral hygiene.

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