BRUSHING NO-NO'S
Don't brush right after eating
Acids in most foods can temporarily weaken enamel, so brushing too soon after eating can wear it down. "Wait 30 to 60 minutes," says Guila Omene, D.M.D., a member of the American Dental Association, "to give the proteins and enzymes in your saliva a chance to wash over your teeth and strengthen the enamel again."
Don't scrub
"You think the harder you brush, the cleaner your teeth will be, but that's not true," says Carla P. Orland, a D.D.S. with the Chicago Dental Society. "Brushing too zealously can damage your teeth and gums." If your bristles start to splay out within a few weeks, lighten up.
Don't open extra wide to reach your molars
If you do, the back of the jawbone can get in the way of reaching the back teeth. Open just wide enough for the toothbrush to fit in.
Don't whiten too often
This can cause gum and tooth sensitivity. Use a whitening toothpaste a few times a week, at-home strips every six months, or professional whitening once a year.
Acids in most foods can temporarily weaken enamel, so brushing too soon after eating can wear it down. "Wait 30 to 60 minutes," says Guila Omene, D.M.D., a member of the American Dental Association, "to give the proteins and enzymes in your saliva a chance to wash over your teeth and strengthen the enamel again."
Don't scrub
"You think the harder you brush, the cleaner your teeth will be, but that's not true," says Carla P. Orland, a D.D.S. with the Chicago Dental Society. "Brushing too zealously can damage your teeth and gums." If your bristles start to splay out within a few weeks, lighten up.
Don't open extra wide to reach your molars
If you do, the back of the jawbone can get in the way of reaching the back teeth. Open just wide enough for the toothbrush to fit in.
Don't whiten too often
This can cause gum and tooth sensitivity. Use a whitening toothpaste a few times a week, at-home strips every six months, or professional whitening once a year.
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