10 Mistakes MOST Men Make Brushing Their Teeth

You brush your teeth daily.

Hopefully twice a day, right?

But are YOU brushing your teeth correctly?

That’s the subject of today’s lesson.

Haircuts, facial hair styles, and colognes are all a personal preference. Some people love pomade, others like a full beard, still some guys prefer a strong sillage with their fragrance.

But there is one grooming detail we can all agree on: bad teeth never look good.

No-one has ever found a man with yellow teeth attractive. It’s a rule which is as consistent as gravity. Having pearly-white, clean teeth and fresh breath is something which will never go out of fashion. It looks good, it feels good and most importantly – it’s healthy.

Click Here To Watch The Video – Brushing Your Teeth Correctly? How To CORRECTLY Brush Your Teeth

Click Here To Watch The Video – How To Brush Your Teeth

Adding a few steps to your daily routine can make a world of difference to your overall oral hygiene and can help ensure you keep your teeth in great condition for years to come.

Mistake #1 – Using An Old Toothbrush

A standard toothbrush is good for roughly 200 brushes. This corresponds to around 3 months of use.

You’ll notice the bristles on your brush wearing out before then so you should always replace your brush as soon as it looks tired.

Worn out bristles can’t do their job properly so remember to replace your toothbrush regularly.

Mistake #2 Using A Hard Bristle Toothbrush

A toothbrush with overly stiff bristles can scratch your gums – resulting in inflammation and bleeding. You also run the risk of causing gum tissue recession. In addition to this, stiff bristles can damage your tooth enamel, and the bristles themselves can store bacteria which can also aggregate health problems.

Always opt for a toothbrush with softer bristles to avoid unnecessary pain and damage.

Mistake #3 Storing Your Toothbrush In Your Bathroom

No, we haven’t made a mistake. You must make sure you store your toothbrush in a hygienic location and sometimes this isn’t your bathroom! When you flush the toilet, it launches particles into the air. Imagine these coming into contact with your toothbrush. We don’t need to spell it out to you. Gross!

Store your toothbrush in another room or in an enclosed cabinet. (Or if you can’t do this, at least close the toilet lid before flushing!)

#4. Mistake – Using Too Much Toothpaste

Using too much toothpaste is a waste and it is completely unnecessary. Excess toothpaste can actually damage your gums and tooth enamel. A pea-sized squirt of toothpaste is enough – don’t overdo it!

#5. Mistake – Not Brushing Long Enough

You need to brush for 2 minutes in order to let the fluoride in the toothpaste work. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in toothpaste that can help to prevent tooth decay.

Make it easy by setting the time on your phone for 2 minutes and build up a routine. Alternatively, some electric toothbrushes have an inbuilt timer which will alert you.

#6. Mistake – Not Knowing How To Brush Your Teeth

Quickly and vigorously brushing your teeth back and forth isn’t an effective way of cleaning them. You should brush your teeth and gums slowly and carefully – moving in small circles. It’s not a race! Too much pressure can damage your gums and cause them to bleed.

You should look to apply light pressure at all times and brush at a 45 degree angle for maximum effectiveness.

#7. Mistake – Brushing Your Teeth Too Often

You only need to brush your teeth twice a day.

Brushing more often can hurt your gums and damage your tooth enamel. If you do decide to brush your teeth after a meal, you should wait at least 30 minutes after finishing as some foods contain citric acid which can weaken tooth enamel. Brushing too soon after eating can damage this enamel in its weakened state.

#8. Mistake – Rinsing With Water

It seems counter-intuitive but this is a mistake a lot of us make.

Rinsing with water dilutes the fluoride in your toothpaste – reducing its effectiveness. You should always rinse with a mouthwash that contains fluoride instead. You’ll also feel more refreshed after brushing.

#9. Mistake – Forgetting To Floss

Make flossing part of your daily routine.

Dental floss reaches places your toothbrush can’t – like in-between your teeth. In fact –  flossing does about 40% of the work required to remove bacteria from your teeth.

You need to floss once daily to maintain good hygiene.

#10. Mistake – Neglecting Your Tongue

So you clean your teeth with toothpaste, rinse with mouthwash and you floss.

All done?

No. As unpleasant as it sounds, your tongue can be a breeding ground for bacteria which can lead to bad breath.

The bacteria on your tongue can also be redistributed to the teeth and gums, increasing the likelihood of plaque buildup. Use a tongue scraper as part of your daily routine to clean your tongue every time you brush your teeth.

So now you know how to clean your teeth and gums properly, why not brush up on your male grooming game? Check out our article on the 7 male grooming mistakes men make.

The post 10 Mistakes MOST Men Make Brushing Their Teeth appeared first on Real Men Real Style.