It’s common knowledge that healthy routines like regular brushing and flossing are a key part of keeping your smile healthy. However, when it comes to your oral health, breaking bad habits is just as important as practicing good ones. You may be damaging your smile every day with a few common yet destructive behaviors. Read on as your San Marcos dentist reveals five questions that can help you determine if you’re hurting your teeth and gums daily.
1.) Are Your Toothbrush Bristles Squashed?
When it comes to brushing your teeth, it’s important to stay away from too much of a good thing. If you use too much force while brushing, you can wear away the enamel on your teeth. This leaves them sensitive and more prone to cavities. If your toothbrush bristles become flattened or squashed easily, you may be brushing too hard. Try using an ultra-soft bristled electric toothbrush to encourage softer brushing.
2.) What Do You Do When Nervous, Scared, or Bored?
Your teeth shouldn’t be chewing on anything besides food. Gnawing on hard objects like pen caps, ice, or fingernails regularly wears down and weakens your teeth, which means they’re much more likely to chip, crack, or fracture. Instead, try chewing on a piece of sugarless gum or a crunchy apple.
3.) How Do You Open Letters, Bags, and Containers?
It may be tempting to use your teeth to open a long-awaited letter or your favorite bag of chips. While this may save you a few moments now, it could cost you more time in the dentist’s chair later with a broken tooth. Exerting extra pressure on your teeth may shift or damage them in a matter of seconds. Keep scissors and bottle openers easily accessible to prevent harming your pearly whites.
4.) Do You Snack Throughout the Day?
Munching on snacks throughout the day boosts your risk of tooth decay. Even healthy snacks like fruit and cheese provide your oral bacteria with enough sugar to create cavity-causing acids. If you have trouble limiting your eating to mealtimes, make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day and avoid unhealthy snacks.
5.) When Was Your Last Dental Checkup?
You should regularly see your dentist every six months even if your teeth look and feel fine. Many oral health issues like gum disease and oral cancer can develop without you seeing or feeling them until permanent damage has been caused. Your dentist is specially trained to detect the earliest warning signs of these issues so they can be treated as soon as possible. However, the main goal of every dental checkup is to prevent these problems from developing in the first place! Routine visits to your dentist is a healthy habit that can keep your smile happy and healthy for years to come.
About the Practice
Great dental care is essential no matter how old you are. That’s why San Marcos Gentle Dental provides services for smiles of every age. Whether your child needs their first cleaning, your spouse needs a dental implant, or you simply want to revitalize your smile, we provide comfortable, friendly, and efficient treatments for the whole family. If you or a loved one need help breaking bad oral health habits or repairing the damage they’ve caused, feel free to reach us via our website or at (512) 396-5225.