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FORCING TOOTHBRUSH TO CLEAN TEETH : More Harm Than Good
We all in today's busy life have a hurry to achieve everything. And here we know that we should brush our teeth for a good oral hygiene. But are we sure we are not forcing our toothbrush to clean our teeth? Now-a-days, majority of us face teeth hypersensitivity which doesn't even get solved after using a de-sensitizing toothpaste. Have you ever thought of the reason behind this?
Our problem lies within the wrong way of brushing of our teeth. Extreme pressure during brushing leads to cervical abrasions on the teeth which are the root cause of teeth hypersensitivity to hot or cold fluids.
What is Cervical Abrasion? Cervical abrasions are seen as deep concavities on the outer side of the teeth facing the lips and the cheek of upper and lower teeth near the gums.
Common sites for Cervical Abrasions: It is mostly seen in canines, premolars and sometimes the first molars too. They usually occur due to our intensive brushing habit where we just grind our brush against the teeth so roughly that along with some plaque and debris we lose the microscopic layer of enamel too. Hence cervical abrasions lead to teeth hypersensitivity (teeth sensitivity might be due to dental erosion also).
Main Causes of Cervical Abrasion: 1. Vigorous and horizontal motion of brushing cause more abrasion of enamel and loss of enamel and dentin, rather than cleaning of teeth. 2. Using toothbrush with hard bristles thinking that it results in faster cleaning. 3. Using very old toothbrush with bristles that get hardened over time due to reaction to the various chemicals in the oral cavity along with toothpaste. 4. Brushing properly for more than two times does not serve much help in preventing cavities and periodontal problem, but it increases the abrasion of the teeth. 5. Brushing for a long time (more than 3-5 minutes at a time) does you more harm than help because along with removal of plaque from your teeth, it may also result in abrasion of the enamel and dentin at a microscopic level that you may not even notice for many years.
Treatment of Dental Cervical Abrasions: 1. Restorations with Glass ionomer cement/Composite restoration. 2. If the abrasion is deep or severe sensitivity is present, then go ahead with Root Canal Treatment.
Prevention of Cervical Abrasions: 1. Use a vertical or circular motion while brushing and avoid horizontal motion completely. This would reduce the impact on the cervical area of the teeth and will result in slow remineralization of the lost dentin surface. 2. Change your toothbrush once in every 3 months because, after sometime the bristles get stiffened due to daily wear and tear along with numerous chemicals acting on it while brushing. 3. Avoid toothpowder, use toothpaste due to its softer action. 4. Use a Soft toothbrush.
Have a Healthy Smile!
About Author: Dr. Deepika Aggarwal Consultant Dental Surgeon and Oral Implantologist B.D.S., P.G.C.O.I., M.I.D.A., F.A.G.E. 10 years work-ex