5 Dental Health Mistakes You Are Making

By now, you probably already know the basics of taking care of your teeth. You may brush and floss on a daily basis and use mouthwash to keep your smile bright. 

Harmful Dental Habits You Should Avoid

But even as an adult, you could be making a few dental health mistakes. Recognizing these errors makes it possible to correct them before you harm your teeth..

Rushing Through Brushing

Busy mornings can leave you feeling rushed. While you feel good knowing you brushed your teeth, it might not be enough. 

For optimum cleanliness, you need to brush for a full two minutes. You also want to make sure that you are brushing both the inside and outside surfaces of your teeth. 

Try turning your toothbrush so that you can reach the back of your teeth with the tip of the head. Being thorough can turn this two minute portion of each morning and evening into one of the most beneficial parts of your day.

Sipping On Acidic or Sugary Beverages

Keeping a soda on your desk may help you perk up at work. Or, you may enjoy slowly sipping on a glass of wine in the evenings. 

Both of these habits can expose your teeth to acid for long periods of time. Too much exposure to acid causes cavities and may make your teeth yellow.

If you do want a sugary or acidic beverage, then try to drink it within a reasonable time frame. This reduces how long the acids stay in contact with your teeth. Once you finish, rinse your mouth with water to further prevent acid erosion.

Brushing Immediately After Eating

After you eat, your tooth enamel is slightly weakened from the acid in your food. This effect lasts for around 20 to 30 minutes. 

If you brush too soon, you risk removing some of the enamel. This can lead to tooth sensitivity and abrasions. Leave enough time in your schedule to brush your teeth after waiting for a half-hour after your meals. 

Overdoing Oral Hygiene

As hard as it might be to believe, you can harm your teeth by overdoing your oral hygiene routine. 

Brushing more often than two to three times a day could cause enamel erosion. You may also irritate your gums or the soft tissues of your mouth if you rinse with mouthwash too frequently. 

Assuming Everything’s Fine

Your smile looks bright and white in the mirror. You are also happy to note that you are able to eat and drink your favorite foods without feeling pain. 

These are all great signs that you have good oral health, but they don’t always tell the whole truth. 

Some dental health problems aren’t detectable by the naked eye. Early cavities may only be seen on an x-ray. 

Gum disease is also hard to notice in the early stages. Regular dental exams are the best way to check on your oral health. 

You only get one set of natural adult teeth to last a lifetime. Making an effort to avoid harming them with incorrect daily habits will help you preserve your smile. 

If you’re unsure if you are taking good care of your teeth, then just reach out. We can help you make the best choices for caring for your oral health.