{"id":11874,"date":"2023-11-07T10:57:48","date_gmt":"2023-11-07T14:57:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drealfmgrenada.com\/?p=11874"},"modified":"2023-11-07T10:57:48","modified_gmt":"2023-11-07T14:57:48","slug":"do-i-need-to-worry-about-brushing-my-teeth-too-hard-heres-what-dentists-have-to-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drealfmgrenada.com\/index.php\/2023\/11\/07\/do-i-need-to-worry-about-brushing-my-teeth-too-hard-heres-what-dentists-have-to-say\/","title":{"rendered":"Do I Need To Worry About Brushing My Teeth Too Hard? Here\u2019s What Dentists Have To Say"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Yahoo.com)-<\/strong>Brushing your teeth twice a day every day, flossing regularly and swishing the right mouthwash are all vital dental habits that maintain your oral health. That\u2019s pretty obvious, right?<\/p>\n

But when it comes to applying pressure, does it help \u2014 or hurt \u2014 to brush hard? Perhaps surprisingly, getting overzealous with your toothbrush isn\u2019t helping matters.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s happening<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re a hard brusher, you\u2019re not alone.\u00a0Between 10% and 20% of Americans<\/a>\u00a0have overbrushed and damaged their teeth and\/or gums.<\/p>\n

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Dr. Nicole Mackie<\/a>, founder of Dr. Nicole Mackie Dental Implant Specialty Center in Las Vegas, has treated many \u201coverzealous brushers.\u201d But get this: She says the idea that harder brushing means cleaner teeth is an illusion.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrushing isn\u2019t like hand-washing dishes, where the harder you scrub, the cleaner they become,\u201d she tells Yahoo Life. \u201cTeeth require tender love and care. Brushing isn\u2019t about force; it\u2019s about technique and consistency.\u201d<\/p>\n

Do I need to worry?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve been brushing hard, try not to stress. Instead, focus on brushing more gently going forward, as there are risks. Mackie says overbrushing can wear down the enamel, the protective layer on your teeth, potentially leading to sensitive teeth, a receding gumline or other periodontal issues.<\/p>\n

Dr. Whitney White<\/a>, a dentist and owner of Aspen Dental in Las Vegas, agrees, saying that noticeable gum recession, aka your teeth appearing longer, and increased sensitivity to hot and cold foods are indicators you may want to ease up.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce the enamel is worn down, it doesn\u2019t regenerate, and this can increase your risk of cavities,\u201d White tells Yahoo Life. Additionally, she says that gum recession can lead to a sensitive root area, potentially leading to decay or worse, tooth loss.<\/p>\n

What can I do about it?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

How do you know if you\u2019re applying the right amount of pressure? One tip is to pretend you’re brushing a ripe tomato. \u201cIdeally, you\u2019d want to apply just enough pressure to clean the surface without squashing it,\u201d Mackie explains.<\/p>\n

White describes this pressure as \u201cjust enough to feel the bristles against your gums and teeth.\u201d<\/p>\n

With an electric toothbrush, Mackie adds, this means almost no pressure. She notes that some electric toothbrushes will alert you if you\u2019re brushing too hard. \u201cThe electric toothbrush takes the guesswork out of it,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

With a manual toothbrush, imagine it\u2019s a paintbrush. \u201cYou\u2019d want the brush strokes to be light, delicate and purposeful,\u201d Mackie says. \u201cBrushing is not about exerting brute force but maintaining consistency and coverage.\u201d<\/p>\n

To make that easier, White has a couple of suggestions. \u201cTry using your nondominant hand to brush your teeth,\u201d she says. \u201cAnother tip is to hold your toothbrush with just your fingertips to control the pressure better.\u201d<\/p>\n

You can also check the toothbrush itself for signs of brushing too hard. \u201cIf it looks like your toothbrush just woke up from a wild night of drinking, with its bristles frayed and fanned out within a few weeks of use, that\u2019s a red flag,\u201d Mackie says.<\/p>\n

When choosing a toothbrush, White, Mackie and the\u00a0American Dental Association recommend\u00a0<\/a>opting for soft bristles. \u201cHard bristles can cause abrasions to the teeth and gums, especially if you\u2019re using a heavy hand,\u201d White explains.<\/p>\n

That said, \u201cThere may be specific cases or dental appliances where firmer bristles are appropriate, but these are less common,\u201d Mackie notes.<\/p>\n

The main takeaway<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Make sure you\u2019re only using light pressure when brushing your teeth. Otherwise, down the road, you may find yourself with tooth sensitivity or receding gums \u2014 and a hefty dental bill.<\/p>\n

Dentists say using soft-bristled toothbrushes, brushing with your nondominant hand or having a light grip on your toothbrush and paying attention to how your toothbrush looks (and changing it\u00a0every three to four months<\/a>) are some ways you can avoid and be mindful of overbrushing.<\/p>\n

As White puts it: \u201cIt\u2019s not a scrubbing competition; it\u2019s a gentle dance with your toothbrush.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Yahoo.com)-Brushing your teeth twice a day every day, flossing regularly and swishing the right mouthwash are all vital dental habits that maintain your oral health. That\u2019s pretty obvious, right? But when it comes to applying […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11875,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-11874","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-health"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drealfmgrenada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/download-1-1.jpg?fit=275%2C183&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drealfmgrenada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/download-1-1.jpg?fit=275%2C183&ssl=1",275,183,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/drealfmgrenada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/download-1-1.jpg",275,183,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/drealfmgrenada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/download-1-1.jpg",275,183,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drealfmgrenada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/download-1-1.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drealfmgrenada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/download-1-1.jpg?fit=275%2C183&ssl=1",275,183,true],"large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drealfmgrenada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/download-1-1.jpg?fit=275%2C183&ssl=1",275,183,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drealfmgrenada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/download-1-1.jpg?fit=275%2C183&ssl=1",275,183,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drealfmgrenada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/download-1-1.jpg?fit=275%2C183&ssl=1",275,183,true],"mh-magazine-slider":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drealfmgrenada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/download-1-1.jpg?resize=275%2C183&ssl=1",275,183,true],"mh-magazine-content":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drealfmgrenada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/download-1-1.jpg?resize=275%2C183&ssl=1",275,183,true],"mh-magazine-large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drealfmgrenada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/download-1-1.jpg?resize=275%2C183&ssl=1",275,183,true],"mh-magazine-medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drealfmgrenada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/download-1-1.jpg?resize=275%2C183&ssl=1",275,183,true],"mh-magazine-small":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drealfmgrenada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/download-1-1.jpg?resize=80%2C60&ssl=1",80,60,true]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"adminrfm","author_link":"https:\/\/drealfmgrenada.com\/index.php\/author\/adminrfm\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"Health<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"(Yahoo.com)-Brushing your teeth twice a day every day, flossing regularly and swishing the right mouthwash are all vital dental habits that maintain your oral health. That\u2019s pretty obvious, right? But when it comes to applying [...]","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/drealfmgrenada.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11874","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/drealfmgrenada.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/drealfmgrenada.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drealfmgrenada.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drealfmgrenada.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11874"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/drealfmgrenada.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11874\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11876,"href":"https:\/\/drealfmgrenada.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11874\/revisions\/11876"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drealfmgrenada.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11875"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/drealfmgrenada.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11874"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drealfmgrenada.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11874"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drealfmgrenada.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11874"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}