Keeping your mouth healthy seems easy enough. You brush, floss, and stay away from sweets. And yes, this is an excellent way to be proactive about your dental health. However, there are mistakes you can make that will compromise all the efforts of a solid daily oral health routine.

Overbrushing

Overbrushing is known as “tooth abrasion” and it can cause serious damage to your mouth. Vigorous brushing can wear down the enamel on the teeth as well push back the gums exposing the sensitive root area. Receding gums can lead to other dental problems such as periodontal disease and cavities on the roots of the teeth. This can result in the need for treatments such fillings, root canals, and tooth extraction.

Chewing On Ice

For some people, chewing ice is a serious habit. Ice crunching won’t harm your health like other addictions will, but the dental damage that comes from chewing on ice often includes cracked and chipped teeth, damage to tooth enamel, problems with existing dental work such as fillings and crowns, and sore jaw muscles. You also may find your teeth become extremely sensitive to hot and cold drinks and foods, and are more prone to cavities. Try switching to sugarless gum to kick the habit.

Too Much Bleach

Overbleaching teeth can lead to weakened enamel and teeth sensitivity. Enamel loss exposes the layer of dentin beneath it, making teeth look dingy rather than pearly. Long-term use of drugstore whitening products can have detrimental effects on your smile. It’s best to talk to your dentist about professional cosmetic dentistry.

Nail Biting

According to the Academy of General Dentistry, nail biting can lead to cracked, chipped, or worn down front teeth. Other dental health risks for nail biters can include sore, torn or damaged gum tissue caused by jagged, sharp fingernail edges and the spread of bacteria from other body parts to the mouth and from the mouth to the nail bed or bloodstream.

Skipping Appointments

So you brush and floss every day? Great! It doesn’t mean you get a pass on visiting the dentist twice a year. The X-Rays and regular cleanings standard to most office visits are key to maintaining good oral health. Don’t visit the dentist regularly because you have dentophobia? Sedation dentistry is an effective way to make many patients comfortable during their dental visit. You can call our office any time to discuss this procedure.

Save your smile by staying on top of good hygiene and avoiding mistakes. Need help with any of the habits we discussed in this article? Schedule an appointment with us at your convenience.