Can brushing your teeth too much be harmful?

I have never been to the dentist in my life, and I have perfect white teeth. I don%26#039;t even know what a cavity feels like. But because I have perfect hygeine I thought maybe it could go the other extreme too, and cause some sort of damage...

Can brushing your teeth too much be harmful?
brushing twice a day is not too much, it is just normal. do not worry, I do not think there will be any damge to your teeth.
Reply:you%26#039;re welcome Report It

Reply:In theory you can erode the enamel, but I wouldn%26#039;t worry about it unless you brush 20 times a day.
Reply:Yes, you can irritate the gums, use too much flouride (it%26#039;s in water AND some toothpastes) and wear down the enamel. Some bacteria is good for teeth!
Reply:...brushing you teeth too hard I hear is harmful...
Reply:I don%26#039;t think it would be bad
Reply:nope but you could damage your gums. gum health is important too. if you use tooth whitener too much your teeth turn see-thru and that can be kind of weird.
Reply:Yes, you can wear them right down to the nubs.
Reply:Yes.


i read somewhere that brushing ur teeth too much can damage ur enamel or something like that
Reply:June 20, 2003 -- Less may be more when it comes to brushing your teeth. A new study shows that applying more than a light amount of pressure to your teeth or brushing longer than two minutes doesn%26#039;t make them any cleaner and may increase the risk of oral health problems.





Experts say many people believe that the longer and harder you brush your teeth, the better it is for your teeth. But the study shows there%26#039;s a limit to the amount of pressure your teeth can take, and beyond that extra force or time doesn%26#039;t do any further good.





Researcher Peter Heaseman, professor of periodontology at the Newcastle University%26#039;s School of Dental Sciences, says the goal of brushing your teeth is to remove plaque, the sticky substance that can harden on teeth and gums when bits of food are left in the mouth. Plaque buildup can cause problems beyond just cavities, such as gum disease. But brushing too hard or for too long can damage the protective enamel on your teeth or irritate your gums and cause other oral health problems.





A Light Touch for Two Minutes





Researchers studied the brushing techniques and times of 12 volunteers who used electric toothbrushes during a four-week study. The participants were taught how to use the oscillating toothbrush, which was hooked up to a computer that took time and pressure measurements. Researchers compared 16 combinations of various brushing times and pressures. Plaque levels on the teeth were also recorded before and after brushing.





They found that plaque removal improved with longer brushing time up to two minutes and with greater pressure up to 150 grams of pressure, which is about the weight of an orange.





%26quot;Although we found that you have to brush your teeth reasonably long and hard to get rid of the harmful plaque which causes dental diseases, our research shows that once you go beyond a certain point, you aren%26#039;t being any more effective,%26quot; says Heaseman, in a news release. %26quot;You could be actually harming your teeth and gums.%26quot;





Heaseman says the same results would also be expected if the volunteers had used ordinary toothbrushes rather than the electronic versions.





Researchers say the force necessary to brush your teeth is actually quite light because the pressure is being applied to a very small area.





%26quot;If you are unsure how to go about brushing your teeth, the best thing to do is to make an appointment with your dentist or dental hygienist who will be able to train you in the correct techniques and will show you approximately how much pressure you should be applying,%26quot; says Heaseman.
Reply:Since you have perfectly normal teeth, I don%26#039;t think you overdo your brushing. Brushing twice a day is essential. However you must take care as to how much pressure do you use, and what kind of technique you use to clean your teeth.


First of all, you must be very gentle and thorough in cleaning your teeth. Do not brush as you would clean the tiles of your bathroom floor. Meaning horizontally and with extreme pressure. This could lead to wearing down of the enamel near the gum margin (as it is the thinnest in this region) and cause what is called %26quot;abrasions%26quot;. Abrasions are wedge shaped deformities which can lead to sensitivity.


If your toothpaste is too abrasive, it can even lead to abrasions on your gums, leading to ulcers.


Use a medium hard toothbrush, with about 12- 15 bristles per column and 4-5 bristles per row. Use a fluoridated toothpaste, and the technique outlined in the webpage below. It%26#039;s called the Bass technique of brushing.



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