Brushing Your Teeth: Common Mistakes and Best Practices

Many people believe they know how to brush their teeth correctly, but dental experts suggest that even diligent brushers might be making mistakes. Here are some key points to improve your dental hygiene routine:

Quality over quantity is crucial when it comes to brushing. While brushing twice a day is recommended, it's more important to brush thoroughly once than to brush quickly twice. If you're only brushing once, do it in the evening and make sure to floss as well.

Contrary to popular belief, it's better to brush before breakfast rather than after. This is because acids from food and drinks can soften tooth enamel, and brushing immediately after eating might wear it away. If you must brush after eating, wait at least 30 minutes.

After brushing, don't rinse your mouth. Simply spit out excess toothpaste, leaving a thin layer of fluoride on your teeth for continued protection.

Lastly, expensive toothpaste isn't necessarily better. The key ingredient to look for is fluoride, which helps protect enamel and prevent decay.