{"id":193,"date":"2016-04-20T17:29:35","date_gmt":"2016-04-20T21:29:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pointedentalgroup.com\/blog\/?p=193"},"modified":"2017-11-03T10:58:18","modified_gmt":"2017-11-03T14:58:18","slug":"teeth-cleaning-myths","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.pointedentalgroup.com\/blog\/teeth-cleaning-myths\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Teeth Cleaning Myths Debunked"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nWhen it comes to teeth cleaning, Pointe Dental Group can help you separate fact from fiction, starting with the basics about brushing.<\/p>\n

Brushing twice a day is important to maintain good dental health \u2013 it\u2019s the starting point to a strong\u00a0Preventative Dental Care<\/a> routine. But how<\/em> you brush, what<\/em> you brush with, and what you need to do to supplement<\/em> your brushing<\/em> is as important as how often<\/em> you brush.<\/p>\n

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Debunking 3 Common Teeth Cleaning Myths<\/h2>\n

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Myth #1: It Doesn\u2019t Matter How Long You Brush<\/h3>\n

A quick swipe of the brush over your teeth twice each day will not effectively clean your pearly whites. recommends brushing for a minimum of two minutes for a thorough cleaning, one minute for the uppers and one for the lowers. If you have trouble keeping track of how long you\u2019ve been brushing, set a timer or invest in a toothbrush with a built-in timer (this is a great way to make sure kids are brushing as long as they should).<\/p>\n

How long you brush, however, isn\u2019t nearly as important as how effectively<\/em> you brush. Brush using short strokes, moving back and forth against the teeth and gums, making sure you\u2019ve made contact with every surface of the tooth. Use the tip of the brush to reach behind each front tooth on the top and the bottom \u2013 the back of these teeth are easy to neglect, but they\u2019re a prime hiding spot for plaque and tartar.<\/p>\n

That being said, is it possible to brush too much? The answer is, \u201cyes.\u201d As previously mentioned, we recommend brushing your teeth twice a day. If you have indulged in sugary sweets or staining foods such as blueberries, coffee, tea, colored soda, or red wine, you might want to follow up with an additional brushing. If you brush too often \u2013 or too hard \u2013 you can damage or irritate the gums and wear away the enamel. Once you\u2019ve done this, you\u2019ve opened the door for bacteria to enter and start doing its dirty work.<\/p>\n

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Myth #2: Stiffer Bristles Are Better<\/h3>\n

In the same way brushing too hard or too often can do more harm than good, so can stiff-bristled toothbrushes. Hard bristles can damage the protective enamel of the tooth and lacerate your gums, giving bacteria a way to enter your tooth or your bloodstream.<\/p>\n

Beyond just soft bristles, choose toothbrushes with rounded-tip bristles, which are made to be gentle for dental use. Your best bet is to look for toothbrushes in packaging which sports the ADA seal. This seal ensures that:<\/p>\n