Any dentist will tell you that you’re far better off flossing and brushing your teeth twice daily than going in for regular deep cleanings every few months. Why? Because while they can fix some problems, they’re also very abrasive, and over time they can wear down your tooth enamel and give you sensitivity issues, not to mention cause health problems like gingivitis and periodontal disease. In this article, we’ll go over why deep cleaning teeth has its place but shouldn’t be your go-to dental practice. Let’s get started!
Overbrushing can cause gum recession
One of the most common dental myths is that you should brush your teeth hard and for a long time. But doing so can cause gum recession, which leads to sensitive gums and receding gums—you know, those deep pockets between your teeth that are perfect hiding places for food particles? Brushing too hard causes your gums to pull away from their roots and eventually exposes them completely. Over brushing can also lead to increased inflammation in your mouth, since brushing too hard or with rough bristles irritates already inflamed tissue. If you want healthy teeth, it’s best to stick with a soft-bristled toothbrush and to spend about two minutes brushing at least twice a day.
Tooth enamel can wear away, exposing the dentin layer
Enamel, which covers and protects your teeth, can wear away as a result of improper brushing. This is particularly true if you brush too hard or use too much pressure while brushing. In addition to wearing down tooth enamel, harder bristles on your toothbrush can also cause gum recession. A build-up of plaque will eventually occur, further weakening tooth enamel if left untreated. This then leads to root damage and cavities forming under enamel in more serious cases. Brushing should be gentle and firm rather than hard! You have to known before going to disadvantages of deep cleaning teeth may seem like a good idea when trying to achieve whiter teeth with little effort—but it’s quite possibly one of worst things you could do for your teeth in terms of quality care.
Brushing too hard can damage gums
When you’re deep cleaning your teeth, it’s easy to get carried away and brush too hard. Brushing too hard can actually damage gums and make them bleed, resulting in a trip to your dentist—and an expensive dental bill. In order to keep teeth clean without damaging them, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and work with smaller motions instead of back-and-forth brushing. Soften water also helps because it decreases erosion on tooth enamel from rough-surface abrasives in tap water.
Brushing too hard can lead to tooth sensitivity
When you brush too hard, you can wear away enamel—the protective coating that sits on top of your teeth. As enamel wears away, your teeth become more sensitive to temperature and texture changes. If you brush too hard, pay attention to how your teeth feel immediately after brushing; if they start to feel sensitive or painful right after, it's a sign that you're brushing too aggressively. Check out our tips for brushing effectively here.
Brushing too hard can damage your tongue
Most people think that electric toothbrushes are better at cleaning teeth than manual ones, but it’s simply not true. The effectiveness of an electric toothbrush is strongly tied to your personal dental hygiene routine, and a lot of research has shown that these brushes aren’t necessarily any more effective than manual ones. If you have certain gum or dental issues, there might be a reason to choose an electric brush. But if you’re just looking for a great tool to help clean your teeth and gums, there’s no need to splurge on one of these expensive implements.
Brushing too hard is bad for your throat, airways and lungs
Brushing too hard can damage tooth enamel and irritate your gums. But those aren’t even your biggest concerns. If you brush too hard, you may be taking extra measures to clean bacteria from your teeth when what you really need to focus on is limiting how much of it gets into your mouth in the first place. Brushing too hard can also irritate a part of your throat called vocal folds (or vocal cords), which are among two dozen muscles that allow us to speak, sing and produce other noises using our voice. Repeated irritation from vigorous brushing could cause them to swell or tighten up, making it harder for you to breathe out fully.
Electric brushes don’t clean better than manual ones
Brushing your teeth too hard can damage your enamel and cause a slew of other problems that can lead to deep cleaning teeth. For example, if you brush too aggressively, you could end up with chipped or broken enamel. Since enamel is what keeps your teeth strong and healthy, losing some can be really detrimental to long-term dental health. In fact, tooth decay can be especially dangerous for people who are struggling with osteoporosis because it contributes to bone loss. Also worth noting: Electric brushes do not clean better than manual ones so don’t think an electric one will replace good technique!
Vacuum Cleaners Don’t Clean Better Than Regular Brushes
In fact, research has shown that vacuuming doesn’t clean any better than a regular toothbrush. Moreover, overzealous brushing can wear down your teeth and irritate your gums, which is why dentists recommend limiting your brush time to two minutes. Be sure to use a soft-bristled brush; too much pressure can actually cause damage to enamel and gum tissues.
Also take care not to scrub or saw at your teeth; excess scraping can erode tooth enamel, leading to decay and even injury (remember: Brushing vigorously puts stress on connective tissue). Overly aggressive brushers also run a higher risk of gum recession—and there are no do-overs for that!
As our family dentist here in Bayonne told us back when we were kids, make sure you stop brushing long before you're tired--especially if you're using an electric model. The temptation is there to overdo it because you don't feel like you're accomplishing anything. Again: Stop way before then!
