Hablamos Español (opens in a new tab)

305-447-1447
Schedule Appointment

Dr. John Paul Gallardo

Periodontics and Implant Dentistry

  • About
    • Meet Dr. Gallardo
    • Our Office
    • Our Bilingual Office
    • In The News
    • What Are My Options?
    • Why us
    • Location
  • Dental Emergency
  • Services
    • Dental Implants
      • Implants Overview
      • Dental Implant Repair
      • Dentures Vs. Implants
      • Single Tooth Replacement
      • Multiple Teeth Replacement
      • Full Teeth Replacement
      • All-on-4® Implants
      • Metal-Free Dental Implants
      • Teethxpress
      • Implant Failure Treatment
    • Gum Treatments
      • The Pinhole Surgical Technique
      • Laser Periodontal Therapy
      • Alloderm
      • Non-Surgical Methods
      • Periodontal Plastic Surgery
    • Cosmetic & Hygiene
      • Dental Crown Lengthening
      • Laser Gum Depigmentation
      • Lip Repositioning
      • Teeth Cleaning
      • Invisalign
      • Periodontally Accelerated Osteogenic Orthodontics
      • Professional Teeth Whitening
    • Oral Surgery
      • Bone Grafting
      • Jaw Surgery
      • Treatment Options
      • TMJ Disorder
      • Wisdom Teeth Removal
    • Technology Offered
      • Plasma Rich Growth Factors
      • Sedation Dentistry
      • Oral Cancer Screening
      • Oral DNA Testing
    • Endodontics
      • Dental Bridges
      • Dental Crowns
      • Full & Partial Dentures
      • Root Canal Treatment
      • Tooth Extraction
  • Photos
  • Reviews
    • RealSelf Reviews
    • Online Reviews
    • Solution Reach Reviews
    • Testimonial Videos
  • For Patients
    • Common Questions
    • Virtual Consultation
    • Out of Town Patients
    • Dental Financing
    • Dental Warranty
    • Educational Videos
    • Medical History Form (opens in a new tab)
    • Patient Referral
    • Pre & Post-Operative Instructions
    • Registration Form
    • Pay Your Bill Online
  • For Dentists
    • Patient Referral
    • Newsletter
    • Why You Should Trust Us
CALL
EMAIL

Can Brushing Your Teeth Ever Be Bad for You?

Problems with Brushing Your TeethYou’ve been hearing it since you were a small child. To keep your teeth and gums healthy, you need to brush your teeth at least twice a day, everyday. But what your elementary school teachers and your childhood dentist might not have told you is that certain methods of brushing can actually do more harm than good. If you’ve been having problems with your gums and teeths, despite  having a good at-home oral care routine, it might be a good idea to re-evaluate how you brush.

You Brush too Hard

When you brush your teeth, you want to remove surface stains, plaque and any remains of the last meal or snack you ate. But, that doesn’t mean you want to vigorously brush or scrub your teeth clean. Brushing with too much force can actually wear down your enamel and can cause your gums to recede or pull away from the teeth, exposing your roots. Gum recession is often associated with periodontal disease, but that is not that only factor that causes it.

There’s no need to scrub your teeth or use a lot of force when you brush. Plaque is very soft and will come off fairly easily with just a bit of pressure. Tartar, which is the hardened form of plaque, can only be removed using special tools such as a scraper, so it’s not even worth trying to scrape it off at home with just a toothbrush.

One way to see if you’re brushing too hard is to look at the bristles of the toothbrush in the mirror. When you brush, they shouldn’t be smashed down. Instead, you should just feel them against your teeth and gums.

Also pay attention to the technique you use. Instead of pushing the brush back and forth across your teeth like a saw, use short strokes and hold the brush at a 45 degree angle. If you use an electric toothbrush, you might want to choose a model that buzzes or otherwise alerts you when you use too much pressure or force.

You  might be focusing too much on one area of the mouth when you brush, leading to wear and tear in that area. Remember to get all of your teeth when you brush, too. Divide your  mouth into quadrants and spend about 30 seconds brushing each quadrant every time you brush.

You Brush Too Soon

After drinking a soda, eating dessert or having a big meal, your first thought might be "time to brush!" But, brushing immediately after you eat can actually harm your teeth, especially if you just ate acidic foods, such as tomatoes, citrus fruits or soda. The acids linger on your teeth after a meal. When you pick up your brush and brush your teeth, you are effectively pushing the acids into your enamel, increasing your risk for erosion and for increased sensitivity.

For the sake of your teeth, it’s best to wait about half an hour after a meal or snack before you brush. If you want to freshen up your mouth in the meantime, you can try chewing sugar-free gum. It’s also a good idea to rinse your  mouth out with water after a meal. The water will wash any acids or food bits off of your teeth.

You Use the Wrong Toothpaste or Toothbrush

The type of toothpaste and the type of toothbrush you use can either end up hurting or helping your teeth. First things first, if you are concerned about cavities or want to protect your teeth from decay, the best thing to do is choose a toothpaste that contains fluoride.

The other ingredients in the toothpaste matter, too, even though they might not be listed as active ingredients. For example, many whitening toothpastes contain abrasives, which are supposed to scrub away surface stains to make your teeth brighter. But, too much whitening toothpaste can wear away your enamel.  When the enamel wears away, the dentin beneath the surface is more visible, which can actually  make your teeth look more yellow. If erosion is a concern, or if you  have a history of sensitive teeth, it’s best to skip the whitening pastes and choose something that is more gentle.

When it comes to toothbrushes, look for ones that have soft bristles and that are the right size for your mouth. A small brush head is ideal for people with smaller mouths, for example. You’ll also want to look at the shape of the head. Usually, a rounded head is more comfortable and less likely to irritate or damage your gums.

If you have any additional questions about brushing your teeth or about the best way to brush for the optimal health of your teeth and gums, the periodontists and dentists at Gallardo are happy to answer them. The dental team specializes in treating and preventing gum disease, dental implants, and oral surgery. To schedule an appointment, call (305) 447-1447 today.

Before All-on-4 ® Dental Implants photo After All-on-4 ® Dental Implants photo
View more All-on-4 ® Dental Implants before and after photos

Reviews

  • My experience with Dr. Gallardo was great. I had no pain after my tooth extraction and bone grafting procedure. I was pleased with how fast my…

    • 5 stars
  • Amazing! Removed my 4 wisdom teeth, had no pain and didn't get swollen at all after.

    • 5 stars
  • I recently had a tooth extraction with bone graft. Dr. Gallardo was excellent! I'm so glad I found him online. My recovery went really smoothly and…

    • 5 stars

Our Doctors Are Featured In

Modern Luxury Miami

Univision

Contact Us Today!

  • By submitting this form I agree to the Terms of Use.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Quick Links

  • About
  • Blog
  • Services
  • Gallery
  • Reviews
  • For Patients
  • Patient Referral
  • Contact Us

Contact Details

  • 2020 SW 27th Ave Miami,
    Florida 33145
  • 305-447-1447
Facebook (opens in a new tab) Twitter (opens in a new tab) Instagram (opens in a new tab) Youtube (opens in a new tab)

Location Map

Location Map(opens in a new tab)

Proud of our Reputation

RealSelf
Yelp
Healthgrades

© Copyright 2021. Dr. John Paul Gallardo. Periodontics and Implant Dentistry.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Sitemap (opens in a new tab)