Even if you remember to brush your teeth twice per day, this does not mean you are doing it properly. Even adults make mistakes when brushing their teeth, and bad habits can lead to cavity formation and gum disease. Here's a look at four ways to improve your tooth brushing routine. Chances are you can put at least one of them to good use, leading to an improvement in your oral health and a decreased risk of dental problems.

Time your brushing sessions.

With busy work and home schedules, many people prepare for the day in a rush. This rush extends to their tooth brushing sessions, and they spend less than the recommended 2 – 3 minutes brushing. Try setting a timer to make sure your brushing sessions are long enough. Surely, you can wake up 1 minute earlier to do a better job of fighting tooth decay.

Spend more time brushing the chewing surfaces of your molars.

The deep grooves in your back molars are an especially appealing hang-out area for oral bacteria and leftover food particles. Unfortunately, a lot of adults don't spend enough time brushing these areas because they're hard to reach in the back of the mouth. Make sure you have a toothbrush with a small enough head to reach way back there, and focus on spending at least 10 seconds brushing the chewing surfaces on each side every time you brush.

Don't brush too hard.

Some people assume that the harder they brush, the better. This is not the case, and in fact, brushing too hard may even wear down the enamel on your teeth or cause gum irritation. Brush with low to moderate pressure—it's really difficult to brush too lightly.

Always brush your tongue.

The oral bacteria that lead to tooth decay are found not only on your teeth and gums, but on your tongue as well. Cleaning your tongue will decrease levels of oral bacteria even further, effectively leaving your mouth even cleaner and your teeth less susceptible to decay. You can also use a tongue scraper, which is a plastic tool with a flat, circular structure on the end, to clean your tongue if you don't like the sensation of brushing.

Oral hygiene habits should not be taken lightly. Make the time to pay closer attention to your brushing habits. When you're in your 70s and 80s and still don't need dentures, you'll be thankful you did so. Talk to a dentist like Yap Adwen P DDS - Family Dentistry for more tips.

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