Are you brushing too hard?

How hard should I be brushing my teeth? This is one of the most common questions patients ask their dentists and the answer is very gently. When you brush your teeth, you have to be careful not to damage the top layer of enamel – and brushing too hard can weaken it. Modern electric toothbrushes are great for so many reasons – one of them being a sensor that will alert you as and when you brush too hard.

Without this sensor it can be really tricky to know what the right amount is – but if you are sticking with a manual brush just remember it should be gentle and thorough, not rough and rushed.