Good dental hygiene involves brushing and flossing your teeth regularly every day. However, brushing your teeth too hard can lead to damage. A dentist in San Diego, CA, will not recommend overbrushing. To maintain good dental health, you must know the signs of overbrushing. When you notice these signs, you should get your mouth checked by your dentist to get an appropriate remedy for your condition. You may be brushing your teeth too hard if you are suffering from any of the following conditions:
Tooth Sensitivity
Overbrushing your teeth can result in them becoming sensitive to anything hot and cold. This can happen as the enamel of your teeth wears away, exposing the dentin of your affected teeth. Enamel wear can occur because of other factors; however, it can take place when you tend to overbrush your teeth at all times or use abrasive toothpaste.
Gum Recession
When you brush your teeth too hard, your gums can be irritated and damaged, leading to recession and exposure of your teeth roots to contaminants. In turn, this results in tooth decay because the roots are no longer protected by the enamel and dentin. Also, gum recession can result in infection, causing more tooth decay and gum line damage.
Gum Bleeding
Aggressive brushing techniques can lead to oral bleeding. When this happens, you might think you have hurt yourself while brushing your teeth. But keep in mind that bleeding gums can be due to gingivitis, which is gum disease in its early stage. This stage is often reversible when you take steps to address plaque buildup immediately. But when not treated right away, gingivitis can become periodontitis, a more serious stage of gum disease. If your gums bleed every time you brush your teeth, you must have a dentist assess your dental situation as soon as possible.
Avoiding Overbrushing
Improving your dental care routine helps you avoid problems associated with brushing your teeth too hard. Using a toothbrush with soft bristles, brush your teeth gently for around two minutes. Also, consider using an electronic toothbrush because this does not harm the teeth and can brush your teeth properly at the right speed.
If you are suffering from any of the signs of overbrushing, you should focus on improving your brushing technique. If you are not sure about this, you should consult your dentist. The dentist will also address the problems you are dealing with due to your overbrushing habit.