Don’t brush your teeth too hard

by Jen (September 18, 2007)

I recently found out my gums are receding, even though I take excellent care of my teeth and have no disease. The culprit? Brushing my teeth too hard.

I’m one of those people who wishes the days were 36 hours long, so when I dutifully brush my teeth, I do it fast but thoroughly, and - I realize now - press very hard with the brush. That’s not right.

The correct way to brush your teeth is gently and slowly, for 2-3 minutes. I’ll have to dump that easy circular stroke I use: you should brush away from your gums, not toward (duh, when you think about it). The tips on the linked page will also help you avoid destroying the enamel on your teeth from harsh brushing.

Also of interest on that linked page: it says certain whitening products can make your gums recede. My dentist had been reporting my gums were getting better at every cleaning for two years… then I used whitening strips, and immediately thought I noticed some exposed enamel near the gum line that I didn’t remember from before. It was shortly after this that my dentist told me my gums were receding.

Fortunately, my teeth are now reasonably white (who wants that fake-looking Hollywood white?) and I’m finding that if I brush 3 times a day and get my regular dental cleanings, they stay that way. Now I just have to learn to brush more gently.

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