Bad Habits That May Be Hurting Your Teeth

Most adults are aware of the fact that daily brushing and flossing go a long way towards enhancing your overall oral health. In spite of this, almost every single person has neglected these basic care procedures at least a few times in their life. Granted, skipping a morning brush and floss because you are running late is not going to cause your teeth to instantly fall out, but over time, those omitted brushings and flossings are capable of doing some real damage to your oral health. In fact, there are a few common habits that people develop over time that eventually do become harmful to your teeth. 

To keep your mouth healthy, here are a few habits that you should steer clear of:

Harmful Food And Drink

A wholesome diet is essential to every aspect of your health, but there are a few foods and drinks that, while healthy, will actually damage your teeth. You should also be mindful of darker food and drink because they can quickly stain your teeth.

Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding, professionally known as bruxism, is a widespread sleeping condition. It affects 11 percent of adults and as much as 15 percent of children under the age of 18. Although it is reasonably common, it can cause notable damage to your gums and teeth if it is left untreated. Speak to your dentist about furnishing you with a protective mouthguard if you suffer from this prevalent condition.

Teaching Bad Habits

If you have small children, you might inadvertently be teaching your bad oral health behaviors to them as well. Schedule an appointment with a pediatric dentist as soon as you see their first set of teeth coming in through their gums, and continue to take them to pediatric dentistry check-ups as they get older to bolster their good dental habits.

Forgetting To Floss

 Okay, so you take the time to brush your teeth consistently, but what about regular flossing? If you are one of the millions who skip over flossing, you are fostering ideal conditions for the onset of gum disease and other general oral health issues. Flossing is an essential part of routine preventative dental care, so don’t neglect making it a part of your daily routine.

Skipping Dental Appointments

 Dodging your dental appointment or neglecting to make one altogether is somewhat typical because a lot of people have some form of a dental phobia even as adults. Ducking your dental appointments, however, could cause you to be unaware that some of your oral issues are a precursor to a serious oral health issue or disease. The majority of these can be treated if they are caught early on but if you duck your dentist, you are robbing yourself of that chance.

Your teeth have to be properly maintained if you want to keep your smile both beautiful and functional. The preventative dentistry treatments offered by Curtis L. Chan, DDS will help you establish the optimal oral health care routine you need to make sure your teeth remain healthy and strong. For more information on preventative dentistry and your oral health, contact our office at (858) 481-9090 to schedule an appointment.