Toothbrushing is not that easy!

A new study in Sweden has confirmed what the hygienists and dentists at Ock Street Clinic have known for years….that most people brush their teeth every day but very few actually manage to do it effectively.

The study, reported by the Daily Mail, was carried out by the University of Gothenburg and found that 90% of the population do not clean their teeth properly, despite trying!

Some of the common mistakes we make are:

• Rinsing the mouth after brushing (so losing the protective fluoride we get from toothpaste)
• Brushing only once per day
• Not using a circular action with the brush
• Missing some teeth
• Not brushing for long enough
• Not brushing the area where the teeth meet the gums effectively

One of the biggest benefits of seeing your dentist and hygienist regularly is so they can see which areas of your mouth you’re missing and checking your brushing technique, as well as making sure you have the correct brush, interdental brush and floss in your dental care toolkit.

Another controversial comment in the Daily Mail was that the Brits have bad teeth when compared to the white broad smiles of the Americans. We at Ock Street disagree with this…our patients have great teeth and that’s how we want to keep them!