Learn how to break the following three bad oral hygiene habits.
You want to keep your teeth healthy and strong, so you brush regularly, floss, and use mouthwash. This is an excellent start, but even while you care for your teeth day and night, there are some oral hygiene habits you may be practicing that do some damage. Bad habits like brushing too hard, using your teeth as tools, or drinking too much soda can all have long-term negative effects on your teeth. Fortunately, it’s not too late to break these bad habits. Read on to learn what you can do to avoid damaging your teeth.
Brushing Too Hard
While it is essential to brush your teeth and do so hard enough to remove food debris, don’t get too excited. Brushing your teeth too forcefully can cause enamel erosion, which negatively impacts your oral hygiene. The American Dental Association (ADA) suggests brushing your teeth gently and in broad strokes. If you find that you naturally brush your teeth quite hard, you can invest in a soft-bristled brush that is less abrasive.
Additionally, avoid brushing your teeth immediately after eating acidic foods. Instead, chew a piece of sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva and gently wash away excess acid.
Using Your Teeth as Tools
Any time you use your teeth for something other than eating, you risk damaging them. Whether shortening your fingernails or tearing open food packages, this behavior sets your teeth up for chipped teeth and other damages. If you find you do this a lot, you may consider investing in a keyring multi-tool at a hardware store. With this portable tool, you can carry around small scissors, a nail file, clippers, and more, so you don’t have to use your teeth as a utility knife every time you need one.
Drinking Soda
Sugary drinks are bad for teeth because they promote bacterial growth. But even diet, sugar-free soda can negatively impact your oral hygiene. In fact, it is the acidity rather than the sugar in sodas that causes the most damage, and both diet and regular sodas have high acidity levels.
To break this bad oral hygiene habit, you can practice switching to water or less acidic options than soda whenever you feel thirsty. It may be hard at first, but your teeth will enjoy long-lasting benefits.
You Can Trust Olney Dental for All of Your Dental Care Needs
For all of your oral care questions and concerns, Olney Dental has the expertise and professionalism to get them the answers they need. Olney Dental is ready to supply you with expert service in a professional environment. Schedule an appointment online today! For more information on how we can give your family the best dentist experience available, give us a call at (301) 250-1057 or contact us online. For more dental tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest.