Is it bad to brush, floss, or mouthwash too much? How much, exactly, is that?
2007-02-16 16:05:38 · 8 answers · asked by Rachel 410 2 in Health ➔ Dental
Yes. Anything in moderation is good. Too much of brushing and flossing might injure your gums.
Ideally, flossing once a day/week and brushing thrice a day gives best results.
2007-02-16 16:49:18 · answer #1 · answered by Dr Vrijilesh Rai 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question. Everything in excess is bad.
Three times a day are just enough... brushing 4 times a day is a bit too much but still ok.
Brushing too much will get your teeth to loose up dental layers turning the brushing action into too much of an abbrassive action.
Using the floss before going to bed is enough, two or three times a day may upset your gums and even hurt them.
Try to get a soft toothbrush... or medium as the most. Avoid using hard toothbrushes, they are reccommended only on special situations. Using a hard toothbrush when not needed will cause your gums to retract and turn your teeth too sensitive.
Mouthwash... only once a day as well, specially if it contains fluoride. Also before going to bed is the best time to use a mouthwash. (Floss, then toothbrush and at last the mouthwash)
Flossing should go first beacause it will free the interdental spaces so that the toothbrush gets the toothpaste into the interdental spaces and then water will run freely through there completing the cleaning process. Flossing after toothbrushing is not really usefull, since after flossing you will not really clean the interdental spaces (toothpaste is like detergent, but how you expect it to work with food in between the teeth and not letting the toothpaste to act on this surfaces, covered by food).
Again, three times is good enough.
Regards, Lifeguard.
2007-02-17 00:20:54 · answer #2 · answered by Lifeguard 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is it possible to brush TOO MUCH?? I should probably floss (I HATE that!) but I do brush MORE than 3 times a day... I despise having coffee breath/mouth after my morning cuppa joe at school, so between classes (I'm a teacher) I sometimes dash across the hall to the bathroom with my toothbrush and paste to give my teeth a quick brush, and I always have a toothbrush and paste handy somewhere... in my desk, in my truck, when I travel I keep it in my totebag, there's some in my dive gear bag... probably that is what has saved me from cavities. I went to the dentist about a month ago for the first time in over 7 years, and other than needing a good cleaning, everything was fine. I do use a soft toothbrush, however.
Now that I'm over my phobia of dentists, I plan to go more regularly like I should, but I don't plan to change my brushing habits, except to maybe floss once in a while
2007-02-17 00:18:59 · answer #3 · answered by lachicadecafe 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would like to say that there's no such thing.
But I'm sure there's a point where it's just too much.
Mouthwash kills germs, but there's a bad side effect. Most have high amounts of alcohol, which not only kills bad germs but good as well. Germs that aid in digestion, for example. It also drys your mouth, which, really, counteracts the problem that you have in the first place. Your saliva aids in keeping your gums and teeth healthy and fresh. That's why drooling children often don't have bad breath.
If you brush too much, you can erode your gums away, especially if you use anything harder than soft bristle toothbrush.
Don't know much about flossing. I would guess that if you don't do it to the point where you're bleeding out of your gums or causing damage, you're ok.
2007-02-17 00:12:35 · answer #4 · answered by interlude 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, any obsession is unhealthy. No matter what it is. If you are constantly brushing, flossing and using mouthwash, then you have a problem.
3 times a day is the norm. When you wake up, after lunch and before bed.
2007-02-17 00:10:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well if you over do it, then your gums can irritate, and when your gums get irritated i'll bleed when you brush your teeth, i think that is why the dentist said that you should brush your teeth 3 times a day and floss everyday.
2007-02-17 00:10:34 · answer #6 · answered by Da 1 N only 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've heard from dentists that if you use anything but a soft toothbrush it can scrub the protective covering off your teeth and really mess them up. Also if you brush too hard it'll mess 'em up. We just can't win, can we?
2007-02-17 00:09:29 · answer #7 · answered by Smeather 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't think you can ever brush too much or too long :)
2007-02-17 02:03:08 · answer #8 · answered by Kelly Taylor 49 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋