Daily brushing—twice a day, actually—helps to ensure that your smile remains healthy and attractive. However, if you are not practicing the proper technique when brushing your teeth, then you are not getting all the benefits that brushing can provide. Believe it or not, there are a few areas in the mouth that are often overlooked during daily tooth brushing routines. Are you overlooking them? Keep reading to learn what three of these areas are and to find out if you're neglecting them. 

Inner Surfaces 

The inner surfaces of your teeth, which is the area of the teeth that faces your tongue, likely does not get the same attention as the front of your teeth because they aren't visible when you show your teeth to smile. However, bacteria that causes cavities can still breed on the inner surfaces of your teeth, making these areas just as important to focus on when brushing. To ensure that you are able to reach these hard-to-reach areas with ease, you may want to invest in an electric toothbrush.  

Gumline 

Plaque, which is a bacteria-laden, sticky film that tends to build up on the teeth, is also known for building up along your gumline. If the plaque is left there, it will result in periodontal disease over time. Unfortunately, the bristles of your toothbrush cannot reach in between your teeth. Therefore, to eliminate the buildup of plaque along the gumline, it is up to you to make sure that you are doing the second step of your oral hygiene routine: flossing.  

Back Teeth 

Your premolars and molars are the teeth that are primarily used for chewing, meaning that food and bacteria will build up in and around these teeth constantly. However, due to the fact that these teeth are located so far back in the mouth, they may not always get the best oral care. For that reason, you may want to consider start your brushing routine in this area on both sides first and then work your way forward to ensure that all teeth will get the care they deserve. Using an electric toothbrush can be beneficial as well because of its quick rotating brush head, which ensures more bristle contact with the surface of the tooth when compared to a traditional toothbrush. 

While daily at-home brushing and flossing is imperative, it is also important to ensure that you maintain twice-annual teeth cleanings and checkups at your local dentist's office. For more information, reach out to dentists like Dr. Jon Douglas Lesan, DDS, RpH, PA.