Did you brush your teeth today? Well, hopefully you did – but, more importantly, did you brush correctly?

Many of us brush our teeth wrong – and there are big mistakes dentists say they see all the time.

First – brushing too hard. It’s bad for your gums, and the bristles can’t do their job – and that goes for both manual and electric toothbrushes.

Also, don’t rinse right after you brush as it flushes the fluoride away – you should wait at least two minutes.

You also should swap out your toothbrush more often – every three months, instead of every time you go to the dentist.

When you brush is important – you want to wait at least 30 minutes after having something too sugary or acidic.

Finally, you may have heard baking soda is good for your teeth, but it’s too abrasive and can damage your enamel.

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If you consider yourself a night owl, there’s some news that may make you want to become an early bird.

Researchers believe they’ve discovered scientific evidence that our brains are not meant to be awake after midnight.

Our internal biological clock expects sleep by that time and staying up too late triggers changes in our brains that cause us to view things more negatively.

And a negative view can lead to impulsive behavior and high-risk decisions – drinking, overeating, gambling, among others.

This doesn’t only apply to those who stay up late to go out for fun – this can affect those up late for occupational reasons, like first responders.

The study is still ongoing, so you don’t have to necessarily change habits yet – but if it’s late and you feel tired, head to bed – especially if it’s after midnight!

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