Are You Brushing Your Teeth Wrong? Here Are 5 Dental Care Mistakes You Could Be Making

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This Spotlight is sponsored by Sensodyne.

Chances are, that's where most of us first learned how to take care of our teeth. However, over the years, we may have picked up some bad dental hygiene habits, contributing to issues like tooth sensitivity.

The good news is that it's never too late to make positive tweaks to your dental care routine.

While you may be tempted to brush your teeth harder and more often, overdoing it could wear away your tooth enamel, leading to tooth sensitivity. Besides that, brushing horizontally can also squeeze your gums and cause your teeth to hurt or develop dull pain over time.

Here's the proper way to brush your teeth:

- Brush the outer surface of your upper and lower teeth gently
- Tilt your brush at a 45° angle, and brush along the gum line
- Use a 45° angle to brush the inside of the teeth in a forward and backward motion
- Use a short back-and-forth motion to clean the chewing surface of your teeth
- Brush your tongue
- Floss each time after you brush your teeth to get rid of food residue

Some foods are bad for your teeth, and eating them can lead to a variety of issues. For instance, sugary or acidic foods and drinks can contribute to tooth decay and enamel erosion, which can lead to heightened tooth sensitivity.

To prevent that, limit your intake of foods and beverages that are too acidic, sweet, hot, or cold.

Some toothpastes and toothbrushes may not suit your teeth and gums, and cause irritation or sensitivity. For example, toothpastes that contain whitening agents or baking soda may be too harsh for some people. Similarly, toothbrushes that have hard or medium bristles may damage your enamel and gums.

To avoid these problems, you should choose a toothpaste that is designed for sensitive teeth, and a toothbrush that has soft or extra-soft bristles. You should also replace your toothbrush every three to four months, or when the bristles become frayed.

Even if you don't have any obvious dental problems, you should still visit your dentist at least once every six months for a routine check up and cleaning. This is because some dental issues, such as cavities and gum disease, may not have any noticeable symptoms until they become severe. By then, you may need more extensive and costly treatments to fix them.

Regular dental visits can help prevent, detect, and treat dental issues before they worsen. Your dentist can also give you advice on how to improve your oral hygiene and care for your teeth and gums.

Sometimes, you may experience some minor dental discomfort, such as a toothache, bleeding gums, or tooth sensitivity. However, these signs could indicate a more serious underlying problem that needs immediate attention. For example, a toothache could be caused by an infection, a cracked tooth, or an abscess, which could spread to other parts of your body and cause longer-term complications.

You should never put off dental issues. If you notice any changes or issues with your teeth, you should seek professional help as soon as possible.

The season will share more information on dealing with tooth sensitivity by using a leading sensitivity toothpaste in Malaysia, Sensodyne.

Airing every Monday on TV3, this mini show will run from 10.50pm to 11pm, starting 4 December.

Missed the show? You can catch reruns on TV9 on Wednesdays from 10.30pm to 10.30pm, starting 6 December.

Make sure to tune in to TV3 on Mondays to catch the show live!

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