Bad Habits To Avoid To Have Healthy Teeth And Gums

Prevention in dentistry is the best approach when it comes to your smile. At our practice, we want you to have a smile that’s healthy, and our staff is here to educate you and your family about how to maintain good oral health.

How Do Prevention Helps Our Oral Health?

Your smile’s health is tied directly to your daily habits. What you eat and how often you brush and floss can have a significant impact on your smile.

• A balanced diet provides your body with essential nutrients that your body needs, including calcium and Vitamin D, which are important for building strong teeth and bones.
• Brushing and flossing your teeth every day can also benefit your oral health. It removes plaque, a sticky film that builds up on your teeth and contains millions of harmful bacteria. Flossing helps to remove the plaque from between your teeth, where toothbrushes can’t reach.

Prevention is one of the best steps you can take to keep your smile healthy.

Bad Habits To Avoid To Have Healthy Teeth And Gums

• Using tobacco

Tobacco use is one of the most common causes of oral cancer. Many people are unaware that smokeless tobacco is as dangerous as cigarettes when it comes to oral cancer. Smoking and tobacco usage can cause oral health problems like dental stains, tooth loss, gum disease, and oral cancer. 

• Not brushing and flossing regularly

Brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day can help to remove plaque buildup and lingering food particles from your teeth.

• Not eating a healthy diet

A healthy diet includes plenty of fruits and vegetables while staying away from sugar and other foods that can damage your teeth and gums. These foods include candy, soda, and anything with a lot of sugar.

• Chewing on hard objects

Chewing on ice and hard candies is a common bad habit, and it can lead to chips and cracks. Hard candies are one of the worst offenders, as are ice cubes. Instead of chewing on ice or hard candy, choose sugar-free gum or sugarless gum.

• Indulging in sugary beverages

Sugary beverages, such as soda and fruit juice, are highly acidic, and over time, they can wear away at your enamel. Not only can this cause decay and cavities, but it can lead to receding gums. The acid weakens the enamel, which makes it easier for bacteria in your mouth to irritate your gums.

• Nail Biting

Biting your nails is a habit that many people do without even realizing it. However, this habit has negative effects on your oral health. Biting your nails will damage your teeth. 

• Ignoring early warning signs of tooth decay and gum disease

Cavities are one of the most common dental problems people experience. When tooth decay has reached the enamel layer, it’s unable to be reversed. At this point, a filling will be necessary. So, ignoring tooth decay can make the condition worse. 

Gum disease is a progressive condition. That means the longer you delay treatment, the more serious the disease becomes. There are early warning signs that if you start to notice them, you should contact your dentist right away.

• Grinding your teeth

Whether you grind your teeth at night or throughout the day, the habit can be destructive to your oral health. Continuous grinding can wear down your teeth and damage your enamel. The habit can also contribute to TMJ disorder. If you grind your teeth, talk to your dentist about what you can do to protect your teeth.

Visit Smile Makers Dental Care, 901 Sunvalley Blvd. Suite 240, Concord, CA 94520 for a professional dental checkup. Book an appointment online or call us at (925) 685-9339 for any questions or concerns related to bad breath.