You brush twice per day, you floss regularly, and you visit the dentist. You’re pretty sure you have everything covered when it comes to looking after your smile. But are you making these oral health mistakes?

Are you rinsing away the good stuff?

If you use a fluoride toothpaste, do you rinse your mouth out afterwards? This is one of the most common oral health mistakes. If you rinse away the fluoride, you’re rinsing away its protective benefits. After your brush, spit out the excess in the sink, but don’t rinse your mouth and let the fluoride do its thing.

Where do you keep your toothbrush?

Own up, do you keep your toothbrush close to your toilet? If so, every time you flush, you could be sending nasty particles up in the air that could land on your toothbrush. Ugh. If you need to move your toothbrush, do it now!

Never share your toothbrush

This is one of the worst oral health mistakes. You should be the only person who uses your toothbrush or tooth cleaner. Let someone else use it and you could be exposed to viruses or even blood borne illnesses from bleeding gums.

Do you brush too soon after eating?

You’ve heard that sugary food and drinks make plaque cling to your teeth so you should brush right after consuming them, right? Nope. Brushing too soon after eating or drinking something sugary or acidic can actually weaken your tooth enamel and cause sensitivity. Instead, wait for an hour then brush your teeth.

Are you overbrushing?

Do you brush your teeth a little too hard for a little too long? You could be damaging your tooth enamel and gums. Instead, go gently, making sure you’ve covered all teeth surfaces. There’s no need to brush for longer than two minutes.

You may think you’ve got it all figured out when it comes to your oral health routine, but if you’re making these common oral health mistakes, you could be doing more harm than good.

For more articles on oral health care and the products you need for a brighter, heathier smile, check out the rest of our blog.