Brushing Your Teeth Too Much Can Damage Your Enamel

When it comes to brushing your teeth, there is such thing as too much of a good thing. Also referred to as over-brushing, this condition occurs when you brush your teeth too much, too hard, or for too long. Over-brushing can lead to many problems that is detrimental to your teeth.

What Happens When You Over-Brush?

When you over-brush your teeth, you can severely damage the gums and your enamel. If your gums appear swollen and red after brushing, it might be a sign of over-brushing. Sometimes these symptoms are confused with those of gum disease, which needs to be treated right away before it progresses into severe forms of periodontitis.

Another sign of over-brushing the teeth is gum recession. If your gums appear to pull back from the teeth, recession may be an issue. Recessed gums look lower and expose portions of the tooth roots. If you notice that your teeth look longer that they did in the past, you could be dealing with receding gums caused by over-brushing.

How Can You Avoid Over-Brushing?

The best way to avoid over-brushing is to start brushing them the correct way. To do this, ensure that your toothbrush is placed at a 45-degree angle along the gum line. Use both a back-and-forth and circular motion and repeat on both the inside and outside surface of the teeth. To keep bacteria levels under control, you should also brush your tongue.

Another important step to protect over-brushing and enamel erosion is to keep up with your regular dental appointments. We can inspect your teeth for signs of over-brushing, and if we notice any erosion, we can help to correct the problem.

Through re-education about proper brushing to recommending potential treatments, we'll help you to combat the causes and effects of over-brushing. Give us a call today.