Wait, I Need to Worry About Overbrushing?

Brushing your teeth is one of the easiest, most effective ways to reduce the risk of cavities and gum disease. However, if you brush too forcefully or don’t use the proper technique, you may do more harm than good.

At Gulf Coast Periodontics & Implants in Gulfport, Mississippi, Dr. Caesar Sweidan and Dr. Laura Smith regularly educate patients on the risks of overbrushing.

Keep reading to discover why overbrushing is a problem and how to protect your teeth.

What is overbrushing?

Overbrushing is a term we use to describe brushing your teeth too frequently, too forcefully, or with too much pressure.

It isn’t intentional — no one wants to purposely damage their teeth and gums — but it can easily become a habit if you never learned the proper brushing technique.

How overbrushing affects oral health

Brushing your teeth more than twice daily may not seem like a big deal. After all, it removes plaque from your teeth and keeps your breath fresh.

However, when you brush too much or too forcefully, it increases your risk of various oral health issues, including:

Tooth sensitivity
Gum recession
Bleeding gums
Tooth discoloration

Additionally, overbrushing can wear down your enamel — the hard, outer layer of your teeth. Enamel doesn’t grow back, so once it’s gone, you’re more likely to experience cavities and pain when chewing and biting.

3 tips for preventing overbrushing

The good news is that overbrushing is preventable. Here are three tips to help protect your teeth:

1. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush

Toothbrush bristles come in three formats: soft, medium, and hard.

You might assume that hard bristles will clean your teeth more effectively, but that isn’t necessarily the case. A soft bristle toothbrush is just as effective and much less likely to damage your teeth and gums.

2. Use a gentle brushing technique

Do your toothbrush bristles become flattened or frayed within a week or two of use? This is a telltale sign you’re overbrushing. Since it can be challenging to break this habit, we recommend holding your toothbrush handle with your index finger, middle finger, and thumb rather than your entire hand. This grip helps you apply less pressure, reducing the risk of enamel wear and gum recession.