Despite thorough tooth brushing, many people suffer from tooth decay and gingivitis. This is often less due to a lack of dental care than to common misconceptions about oral hygiene. Here are the five most common misconceptions about dental care:

1. brush your teeth after every meal.

In principle, this is true, because bacteria that can damage your teeth get into them through food, but it depends on what you have eaten. Fruit, salads and soft drinks contain fruit acids that soften tooth enamel. If you brush the softened enamel, valuable minerals are scraped away with a toothbrush. To be on the safe side, wait half an hour after every meal and then brush your teeth.

2. a new toothbrush every 6 months is sufficient.

The bristles of the toothbrush are already significantly worn after four months and the toothbrush is less effective. Bacteria can also be deposited between the bristles, which then enter the mouth when brushing. It is better to replace the toothbrush after three months.

3. clean the toothbrush in the dishwasher.

Although the bacteria on the toothbrush are effectively removed in the dishwasher, the high temperatures of the rinsing process damage the bristles. To clean the toothbrush, you should of course rinse it thoroughly with water after each brushing and then place it in a cup with the brush head facing upwards to dry.

4. brushing your teeth is sufficient for dental care.

The toothbrush can only reach three sides of the teeth. The side adjacent to the next tooth is not reached. This is where you should floss after brushing your teeth.

5 Simple toothbrushes are just as effective as electric toothbrushes.

With a correspondingly longer brushing time and a thorough approach, you can remove plaque just as well with a manual toothbrush as with an electric toothbrush. However, the electric toothbrush achieves its optimum result in significantly less brushing time. The smaller brush head can also reach the teeth at the back of the mouth more easily.