你每天都在刷牙 到底刷對了沒？

It's not exactly a newsflash that one of the most important reasons to brush your teeth is to fight off cavities (not to mention prevent bad breath). But what if the way you brush your teeth actually makes you more susceptible to cavities, tooth decay and gum disease? Scary.
刷牙的最重要原因是拒絕蟲牙（別再說是預防口臭），這已經不是新聞了。但是要是你刷牙的方式實際上更容易讓你的牙齒蛀牙，產生牙齒蛀蝕和得牙齦疾病呢？這就很可怕了。

Turns out, there are a host of common mistakes that many of us make morning and night that can damage teeth and turn a healthy smile upside-down. Find out what you're doing wrong -- and how to break these bad habits for better teeth.
事實證明，我們在早晚刷牙中會犯很多普遍的錯誤傷害我們的牙齒，讓我們的微笑都打上了不健康的記號。找出你錯在哪裏—然後爲了讓牙齒更健康，應該怎麼丟掉這些惡習。

don't brush for long enough.
1.你刷牙時間不夠。

Most dentists recommend brushing for two or three minutes, but few people ever make it to that. Next time, check your watch to see how long your routine takes.
大多數的牙醫都建議人們刷牙要刷兩到三分鐘，但是很少有人能做到。下一次，盯着手錶看看你花了多少時間。

're not watching what you're doing.
2.並未專注自己在幹什麼

Make a point to look in the mirror while you brush your teeth and see where the brush is actually going. It's easy to miss the area right at the gum line, which is the most important part.
在刷牙的時候，對着鏡子注意一下你的牙刷刷在了什麼地方。我們很容易漏刷牙齦那一部分，這是最重要的一部分。

technique needs a major makeover.
3.你的刷牙方法需要有大改變。

Hold the brush so the bristles are at a 45-degree angle to the surface of the teeth and brush in small circles. Focus on a few teeth at once, then move on to the next set, continuing around from one side to the other, top and bottom, front and back. It's okay to brush in straight lines on the chewing surfaces. After completing your circles, brush away from the gum line to clear off loosened plaque and bacteria.
手握着牙刷，讓其同牙齒表面成45°角，以打小圈的方式刷。起先小範圍的刷，然後移動到下一個區域，繼續從一邊移到另一邊刷，上下，前後。在牙齒的咀嚼面成直線刷也是可以的。在完成循環刷以後，刷掉分佈在牙齦線上的牙齦斑和細菌。

're brushing too hard.
4.你刷牙太用力了。

The chances of enamel breakage are greater when you brush too hard.
刷牙力氣過大更容易損傷你的牙釉質。

're using the wrong brush.
5.你用錯了牙刷。

Be sure to buy soft or ultrasoft brushes to minimize damage. Electric toothbrushes are great tools if they help you brush longer and get you to the right places.
確保你使用的是柔軟的或超軟的牙刷，這樣能使損傷降到最低。如果電動牙刷能幫助你刷的更久，並且刷對了位置，那麼它就是最好的。

have the wrong toothpaste.
6.你用錯了牙膏。

Baking soda toothpastes are good at getting stains out because they are abrasive -- but that also means they're hard on enamel.
小蘇打牙膏能很容易把污漬刷出來是因爲它們有研磨作用—但是這也意味着它們比較堅硬會傷害牙釉質。

're failing at flossing.
7.你不會用牙線清理。

Start with a full foot of floss, twirling the ends around the middle finger on each hand. Use your thumb and forefinger to gently work the floss between two teeth, being careful not to pull it roughly or saw it back and forth, both of which can injure the gum. Wrap the floss around one tooth and wipe up and down to loosen and remove plaque. Then do the same on the next tooth and repeat.
開始用一段牙線，將線的兩段纏在左右手中指上。用你的食指和拇指輕輕地在兩齒之間撥動牙線，小心一點不要太粗魯或前後牽動，這樣會傷害到牙齦。將牙線纏在牙齒上，上下前後拉動，清除附着在牙齒上的菌斑。然後換旁邊的牙齒，重複相同的動作。

don't rinse after.
8.刷完牙後未沖洗。

Effective brushing and flossing unbind bacteria-laden plaque from the surface of teeth. Rinsing afterward is a key step to make sure that bacteria leave your mouth for good.
有效的刷牙和使用牙線能使細菌斑快速從牙齒表面脫離。在洗完後再次漱口是很關鍵的一步，確保細菌已從嘴裏離開。