Many of us know to brush twice a day, floss at least once a day, and stay away from sugar. However, there may be holes in your perfect daily dental hygiene routine. Here are 5 things you should know to do or not to do when it comes to brushing your teeth.

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  • Don’t Rinse Your Mouth Out

You don’t want to lose the full benefit of brushing with a fluoride toothpaste, therefore, you should only spit out the excess toothpaste and not rinse out your mouth after brushing your teeth.The fluoride will stay on your teeth and keep protecting your them after you have finished brushing.

  • Keep your Toothbrush out of the Toilet

Where you keep your toothbrush when you aren’t using it is very important for keeping those toothbrush bristles clean. If you keep your brush near the toilet in the bathroom, there is a possibility when someone flushes the toilet that some of the spray will fly out and land on your toothbrush. To avoid brushing your teeth with toilet germs, move your brush a safe distance away from the loo.

  • Sharing is Not Caring

There should only be one person per toothbrush. Regardless of whether you are related, you should keep your toothbrush to yourself or risk getting someone else’s germs, cold or blood-borne disease.

  • Brushing Your Teeth After Sugar Can Weaken Them

Consuming anything sugary or acidic makes your teeth weak, and if you brush them straight away to try and reverse the effects of the unhealthy food, you could actually be brushing away fragments of your enamel. Rather wait an hour and then brush with a fluoride toothpaste for two minutes last thing at night.

  • Don’t Brush too Hard

Brushing your teeth as hard as possible does not give the most thorough clean, but can actually damage your tooth enamel, resulting in tooth sensitivity and toothache. Rather ensure you brush all surfaces of your teeth with a gentle pressure for two minutes.

Although the most important part of brushing your teeth is remembering to do it everyday, twice a day for the recommended amount of time, the above tips will make sure that when you do brush your teeth, you are making the best effort to maintain your dental health.

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