Like anyone else, you desire to have the best oral health possible. To achieve this, you need to take the right approach. Otherwise, you could be doing more harm than good. As you continue reading, your dentist in Stephens City lists 5 habits that you don’t want to follow!
Only Brushing Once a Day
As you go through your day, your teeth are bathed in food and beverage particles. If not removed, they can attract more oral bacteria than normal and lead to plaque development. Brushing at least two times a day helps prevent tooth and gum decay. However, for the most protection, you should try to brush after every meal.
Not Brushing Your Gums
While brushing your teeth is the norm, you may fail to clean your gums. Skipping the soft tissue areas can lead to an infection and inflammation, which are two warning signs of gum disease.
Overdoing Teeth Whitening
It’s perfectly normal to want a set of gleaming-white teeth. To achieve this, you may use a whitening toothpaste, strips or rinses. Because the over-the-counter products don’t deliver the same results as professional teeth whitening, you may be tempted to go beyond what the directions recommend. Dentists caution against doing so, as it can lead to permanent enamel damage.
Failing to Floss Regularly
Toothbrushing isn’t enough by itself. To fully clean your teeth, you need to floss as well. The flexible material that dental floss is made from allows it to get into the tight spaces between your teeth to remove debris that can quickly turn into plaque. To get the best results, you should be flossing with every toothbrushing session (at least two times a day).
Only Visiting Your Dentist for Emergencies
You can save yourself a lot of pain and out-of-pocket expenses by regularly visiting your dentist for cleanings and examinations. In most cases, the recommended frequency is every six months. However, if you have a history of cavities or poor dental hygiene, you may need to visit every 90 days.
By failing to maintain these visits, you could be subject to the following:
- Diminished oral and overall health
- Unfavorable changes in the appearance of your teeth
- A greater chance of dental emergencies and higher costs
It’s always easier to prevent a problem than treat it later. By taking a careful approach to your teeth cleaning regimen, you can better ensure that you’ll have a healthy set of ivories to eat and smile with even as you get older!
About the Author
Dr. Thomas A. Gromling earned his dental degree from the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University. For the past four decades, he has positively shaped his patients’ oral health by providing high-quality and compassionate care. To stay abreast of the latest changes in dentistry, Dr. Gromling maintains professional affiliation with such groups as the Virginia Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry and others. He promotes excellent oral health through prevention at his private practice, and he can be reached for more information or to schedule a visit through his website.