3 Signs That Show You're Brushing Too Much Or Too Hard
Too much of anything can be bad for you, even something as simple as brushing your teeth. Regular brushing is encouraged in order to maintain proper oral hygiene. However, there is a fine line between proper brushing and too much brushing. If you practice the latter, you will start to experience some consequences that are bad for your teeth. Read on below to see what these are and how they come about.
Gum recession
One way to tell that you are brushing too much or too hard is if you notice that some of your gums are starting to recede. Gum recession can be caused by abrasive brushing. When you brush too fast, too hard or too often, the gum line is slowly pushed away by the brush bristles. What then happens is that the gums start to recede back. With the upper jaws, the gums will recede upwards while for lower jaws, the gums will recede downwards. This phenomenon will often cause over-sensitivity in the exposed areas. The only remedy is to have dental filler added to these areas
Bleeding gums
Bleeding gums are often a sign of gingivitis, an infection that occurs before periodontal disease sets in. However, your gums can also bleed if you're brushing too hard or if your brush is too coarse. When this happens, not only will your gums bleed, but they will also look inflamed. You may also get gum sores due to impacts from the toothbrush. If this is the cause of your bleeding gums, the only solution is to practise better brushing techniques and to use a softer toothbrush. Unfortunately, you will have to have a dentist rule out gingivitis first just to be on the safe side.
Increased teeth sensitivity
The other way to tell that you have been brushing too aggressively is if you realise that your teeth have become increasingly sensitive to hot or cold foods/drinks. The exposed part of your teeth called the crown is covered by a very hard material called dentin. This material is the protective layer that keeps teeth strong and hard. If you brush too hard, the dentin on your crowns can wear off to a degree, hence the sensitivity.
If you suspect that you are a victim of your own brushing methods, visit your dentist for professional dental advice. They will advise you on what type of toothbrush to use, how long you should brush, which motions to use when brushing, and more. This will help keep your teeth stronger and healthy for many more years to come.