Taking care of our teeth and gums seems pretty straightforward.
Brush your teeth twice per day and floss when you think of it.
Be sure to see your dentist twice per year and you’re golden.
However, there is more to it.
There are some healthy practices you may be doing right now that are not so healthy for your teeth.
If you’re a water drinker like me, don’t think you’re off the hook.
Lemon water can also harm your teeth.
Occasionally skipping brushing your teeth at night
We’ve all been there.
You get home late from a night out with friends and have to get up early in the morning.
You’re exhausted and just fall into bed withoutbrushingyour teeth.
If this routine starts becoming more common for you, your oral health will suffer.
“Most often people who find brushing their teeth before bed to be pointless just forget to do it.
Skipping brushing your teeth before bed can have very bad consequences.”
“The important thing is to not make a habit of it.
A two-minute brush before bed can prevent this from happening!”
However, even that is not often enough to keep my toothbrush clean and protect my oral health.
you could also soak your toothbrush head for 20 minutes in mouthwash."
These are the safest ways to clean your toothbrush.
Never put your toothbrush in the dishwasher or microwave to clean, because the plastic could melt.
Putting off your appointment
I get it.
However, putting off your appointment will only cause more oral health issues down the road.
“Don’t skip your check-ups,” Dr. Glassman told me.
“It’s all aboutprevention prevention prevention.”
Your dental professional knows the early warning signs.
Brushing your teeth after drinking coffee
Most of us know thatcoffeeisn’t great for our teeth.
I can’t stand the stains that it leaves, but I can’t quite quit it yet.
Like they say, patience is a virtue.
Snacking throughout the day
I’m a grazer.
I rarely eat one full meal, but rather prefer to lightly graze throughout the day.
This keeps me feeling full and light while I’m working.
However, my little habit is actually harming my oral health.
“Frequency of sugar consumption is more important than quantity,” explained Dr. Polley.
Your teeth will be constantly coated in a sugary film eating away at your teeth."
Drinking wine
This one stings.
“There is a lot of hidden sugar in your drink that you may not notice.
For example, one glass of Chardonnay contains about 1.4 grams of sugar.
All this sugar can stick to your teeth when you take a drink.”
Sharing toothbrushes
Be honest you’ve shared a toothbrush before.
Either way, I’m betting you’ve tried someone else’s toothbrush before.
In addition to the yuck factor, sharing toothbrushes puts you at risk for oral infection.
There are a number of reasons why sharing your toothbrush is dangerous to your health.
“When some people brush, their gums bleed,” Dr. Moldovan said.
“That can result in exposure to bacteria and viruses that can enter the bloodstream.”
Our toothbrushes can also hang onto bacteria, food particles, viruses, and fungi.
“One of the most common oral infections, periodontitis, can be spread via the toothbrush.
“In this case, it’s also not just a problem that’s limited to the mouth.
Periodontal disease can affect the whole body.”
Brushing too hard
Has your toothbrush ever snapped in half during brushing?
Mine has, and that was my first clue that I brush way too hard.
Not sure if you’re being too aggressive in your brushing habits?
To fix this problem, simply use less pressure when brushing.
“Ease off of your toothbrush.
Time and consistency are more important to get a good clean than vigorous motions,” said Dr. Townsend.
An acidic environment bathes the teeth in acid, making it very soluble and vulnerable to erosion.
However, these over-the-counter whitening kits could be harming your teeth.
Whitening products sold outside of the dental professional environment are not regulated.
Many are ineffective or injurious to the tooth structure,” warned Jones.
“Overuse can create sensitivity and permanent tooth structure modification.
It is always best to obtain an oral assessment prior to commencing any whitening treatment.
When it comes to whitening, leave it to the professionals.
Skipping flossing
I never used to be a flosser.
It always seemed like such an unnecessary step in the oral health routine and I usually forgot.
“Removing this sticky buildup daily helps to prevent cavities and gum disease.
Jones echoed Dr. Glassman.
“Well, they probably bleed because you don’t floss,“Premier DentalDirector of Clinical AffairsDr.
Jason H Goodchildtold me.
“If you practice good hygiene, including good interdental care, then the bleeding will stop.”
Not to mention they will lose their teeth sooner if the teeth are not straight.”
The fix may be easier than you thought.
Many people avoid the areas of their mouth where they bleed, but they should actually do the opposite.
“The longer you leave it alone, the worse it will get!
They need to see a dentist to find out why they are having the bleeding gums.”
Bleeding gums means there is inflammation in your body.
“Bleeding in the gums following brushing or flossing is a strong indicator of inflammation and periodontal disease.
It is not the toothbrush or the floss that is creating this response.
“This is often painless so can be easily ignored.
Ignoring this critical symptom can put not only your oral health at jeopardy, but also your overall health.
Keep your mouth healthy and provide your body with the best possible chance to sustain lifelong health.”
“Patients believe if nothing hurts, then nothing is wrong.
This is incorrect and leads to bigger problems down the road,” Cosmetic DentistAnna Beriktold me.
Waiting until you have pain to see the dentist is also going to be more expensive for you.
Brushing more than twice daily
Okay overachievers, it’s time to step away from the toothbrush.
So stop packing your toothbrush in your work bag and go back to being a normal person.
