Brushing our teeth is good. We can keep the enamel, the hard outer layer of our teeth, clear of plaque this way. However, we need to be careful with our brushing or else we can negatively affect our enamel. In order to help your enamel out, you can consider these suggestions in regards to your brushing.
One thing you can do is to take care not to brush too hard. Scrubbing hard may work when cleaning other things, but your enamel cannot quite take that kind of strain. It can get rubbed off, though slowly and steadily. Enamel cannot grow back once it is gone; however, you can keep this from happening by brushing more gently. Also, if you go with a soft-bristled instead of a hard-bristled toothbrush, you can have a better chance of maintaining your enamel.
Often times, brushing after a meal can be a good idea, especially if there were quite a bit of acidic foods involved. However, you may be better off by waiting a half hour before you do so. The acidic nature of some foods and drinks can soften the enamel a bit. If you brush while the enamel is in that state, it can rub off more easily.
You may also want to curb the acidity by chewing some sugarless gum or drinking water. The act of chewing can bring up more saliva, which can clean off acids and reduce their effectiveness, which can give your enamel time to get back to normal. Water can offer similar benefits. If you take these steps, you can safely brush your teeth when the 30 minutes are up.
We are glad to help you with your oral health care goals here at Trine Dental Group in Orland Park, Illinois. If you are ever in need of a dentist, our very own Dr. Christopher Pavletic can help you with whatever you need. If you would like to call us, you can reach us at 708-448-2588.