Oral Hygiene 101: Habits to Kick for Healthier Teeth
Picking up a bad habit or two over the years is to be expected. Almost everyone has a vice or two that they lean on. The habits might seem relatively innocuous, but they can be having severe effects on the health of your mouth as well as the look of your smile. Obviously, kicking a bad habit is not necessarily easy, and you might not have even thought about the effects that these habits are having on your teeth. Read on to learn more.
Clenching, Grinding &Thumb Sucking
Your mental health can lead you to unconsciously pick up habits. For example, anxiety can manifest in several ways leading to the adoption of self-soothing habits like thumb-sucking. Anxiety sufferers are also more likely to clench or grind their teeth. These habits can lead to enamel erosion as well as force your teeth into misalignment. In these cases, it is worth exploring alternative self-soothing habits; you can also have a retainer made to protect your teeth.
Smoking & Drinking Alcohol
Smoking is obviously bad for you in several ways, and it is a bad habit to break. Drinking to access can also have several effects on your overall health. Both of these habits may lead to discolouration of the teeth; some alcoholic beverages are also highly acidic, which wears down the enamel; smoking can also lead to gum disease, bad breath and inflammation. Quitting or cutting down on either your smoking or drinking is difficult. Often you will need the support of a healthcare professional in order to have the best chance of success.
Brushing too Hard or Using Your Teeth as Tools
While teeth are not exactly delicate, it is still important to be gentle with your teeth. Brushing is important for your oral health; however, brushing your teeth too aggressively can actually remove enamel and irritate your gums. A lot of people also tend to use their teeth to open things, including caps, bottles or other packages. In doing so, you introduce a lot of foreign bacteria into your mouth as well as compromise the structural integrity of your teeth. These habits should be stopped.
Avoiding the Dentist
People avoid the dentist for a number of reasons, from a fear of the dentist to a lack of funds. However, by avoiding the dentist, you are allowing potential problems to fester and worsen, which can then make the issue far more costly to rectify. You’ll receive preventative advice as well as have any maintenance needs met. Finding the right dentist can go a long way in alleviating your anxieties and quelling your fears. Do some research; for example, if you are based in Dorset, Cheriton Dental Practice has excellent reviews from other clients as well as offering a range of services.
To Conclude
The best approach to healthcare as a whole should always be preventative as opposed to reactive. This is why working to halt bad habits and instead adopting healthier ones is advisable when it comes to your oral health. For the most part, the advice above should really be common sense, and it is never too late to make healthier choices.