While brushing your teeth often is a good (and important) habit, it’s possible to brush incorrectly and damage your teeth and gums. Brushing your teeth too hard can result in significant, and sometimes irreparable damage to your dental health. If you suspect you may be brushing your teeth too hard, it’s important to see your dentist and discuss your teeth brushing habits. Here’s what to watch out for.
1. Sensitive Teeth
Experiencing sensitive teeth is a strong indicator that you’re brushing your teeth too aggressively. You’ll know whether you’re experiencing tooth sensitivity if consuming certain foods or drinks causes any pain or discomfort to your teeth. Cold or hot foods and beverages are typically what cause the most discomfort; however, something as simple as cold air could also cause a similar pain.
Tooth sensitivity is one of the most common results of brushing too hard. When you brush your teeth too hard, you are wearing away at the enamel layer of your tooth, which can expose the nerve endings within your teeth. This exposure is what creates the sensitive feeling, so be sure to brush more gently to avoid this issue.
2. Bleeding Gums
Another common symptom of brushing your teeth too hard is bleeding gums. If you’re brushing too hard, it’s likely that your gums will start bleeding as you’re brushing. If you notice this happening to you, it’s important to inform your dentist right away to determine the cause and to discuss treatment options, which likely include switching to a softer toothbrush and a special toothpaste.
3. Damaged Toothbrush
One of the simplest, yet often overlooked indications of brushing your teeth too hard is a damaged toothbrush. If you’re not yet experiencing any physical symptoms, but notice that your toothbrush is fraying and looks nearly destroyed, then it’s likely that you’re brushing your teeth too hard. If you’re unsure if your toothbrush looks as though you’re brushing too hard, you can ask your dentist and they can show you examples of what toothbrushes usually look like when the user is brushing incorrectly.
4. Receding Gums
Receding gums are another visible indication that you’re brushing your teeth too hard. If you notice that your gums appear lower than they should, and your teeth are rather exposed near your gum line, then you’re probably brushing incorrectly. While gum recession is definitely visible, it’s also quite painful, making it an easily noticeable sign of improper teeth brushing. If you’re unsure whether your gums are beginning to recede, you should ask your dentist, as they will be more capable of recognizing the signs of gum recession.
5. Dull Teeth
While brushing your teeth often and hard may seem like a sure way to guarantee a clean and healthy smile, it can do the opposite. Brushing too hard can actually result in a dull smile that consists of yellow and darker teeth. This is because the act of brushing too hard wears away the white, glossy enamel that’s on your teeth, so once this enamel is destroyed you are unfortunately left with visibly damaged teeth.
Having the proper dental insurance will help ensure that you receive the best dental care to help repair and damage you may have caused from brushing your teeth too hard. You can compare various dental insurance plans at iSelect.com, where you will be able to determine which dental plan best suits your needs. iSelect offers a wide variety of dental insurance that will offer coverage for nearly all your dental needs, ranging from cleanings, fillings, root canals, and more.
If you believe your dental health is being damaged as a result of your teeth brushing habits, it’s important to have dental coverage that will help provide coverage for any dental services you may need in order to reverse the damage. The symptoms listed above can help determine if you’re brushing your teeth too roughly, and will thus help you decide on which dental plan will be best for your needs.