Taking care of your teeth and gums is no big deal, right? You look in the mirror and your teeth look normal; you don’t see any issues. The last time you were at the dentist for a check-up was about a couple years ago, or was it 4 years or maybe 5? You should give your teeth a good workover with a rigorous electric toothbrush and rinse with mouthwash just to make sure. What the heck, there is a lot of blood coming from your gums. Is this a problem and why is this happening? Here are some habits that are bad for your oral health.
Visiting your dentist twice per year is the best way to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Your dentist has the proper tools and equipment to see what is happening inside your mouth. X-rays and intraoral cameras help identify problem areas of your teeth early on so if something is discovered it can be dealt with before it becomes a problem. Your dentist can recognize the early signs of decay, gingivitis and even oral cancer. Prevention is the key to staying healthy.
You always hear about the benefits of brushing your teeth twice a day. Brushing your teeth helps remove the build -p of plaque and tartar around your gums. If you avoid brushing, you are letting harmful bacteria make its way into the enamel of your teeth, leading to cavities or worse. Flossing daily to clean between your teeth is also important to get into those hard to reach areas where brushing alone can’t get. If you are not following this daily schedule, be prepared to have a mouthful of cavities.
Biting your nails can have grave consequences. If you have weak enamel or perhaps have veneers on your teeth, biting constantly on your nails can cause damage. A chipped tooth is not very pleasing to look at and repairing your veneers costs money. Not only is this bad habit causing esthetic problems but when you put your fingers in your mouth you are allowing bacteria to get in at the same time. Yuck! Avoid this type of hazard by eliminating the habit of constantly chewing on the ends of your fingers.
It’s morning and you need a little pick-me-up to get you going. Today you add 4 spoons of sugar to your coffee. It tastes delicious. Then at lunchtime, you wash down your burger and fries with an extra-large orange pop. Mid-afternoon, you grab a chocolate bar to stop your stomach from grumbling and then when you get home from work you down a well-deserved cocktail. What’s wrong with this? It’s your normal daily routine. Snacking a lot and eating a diet high in sugar leaves your mouth open to a host of problems. Sugar adheres to your teeth and begins to work its way into the cracks and crevices of your enamel. If you are not brushing after every meal, you are allowing the sugars to develop into bacteria and this is a major cause of tooth decay. Think about your regular daily routine and consider adjusting these bad habits you have formed over the years. Keeping your teeth and gums healthy is a habit you want to keep!
Medically reviewed by Dr. Gurshant Grewal - a Registered Dentist on January 2, 2020
