One of the leading causes of tooth decay and gum disease is poor oral hygiene. Plaque bacteria build up on your teeth and gums when you don’t brush and floss regularly, causing inflammation and infection. Even though oral health is important, many people don’t take their dental care seriously. It is one of the most neglected and forgotten areas of health care, despite its importance.
When people wait until they have a problem seeing a dentist, it’s usually too late. As a result, prevention is crucial for oral health, so make sure to take care of your teeth and gums every day.
You can achieve this by avoiding these five unhealthy habits that can harm your oral health.
Regularly brushing or flossing your teeth
An important no-no is this habit. Be sure to brush and floss your teeth twice daily. In the absence of regular brushing, plaque will build up on your teeth and eventually turn into tartar, which can cause gum disease.
Diabetes, heart disease, and stroke have all been linked to gum disease. We shouldn’t ignore this problem. Brush your teeth today. However, if plaque and tartar have already built up, you should see a dentist and have them removed.
You can find a good Perth Dentist at Maylands Dental Centre if you’re in Australia. The dentists are gentle, professional, and will get your teeth sparkling.
Cigarettes
Smoking is bad for your overall health, but it’s especially bad for your teeth. In addition to gum disease and decay, smoking increases your risk of oral cancer. Smoking can also cause bad breath and stain your teeth.
Tobacco smoking has long been warned about by dentists. For decades, cigarette companies have been required to label their products with warnings.
Millions of people smoke despite all of this. Smoking is still the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for your oral and overall health. You should not start if you are considering it. It is not worth it.
Consuming sugary foods
The worst thing for your teeth is sugar. Sugar causes tooth decay and cavities. Due to their consumption of sugary snacks and drinks, young kids are often prone to cavities.
To prevent cavities, brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, floss daily, and visit your dentist regularly. Sugary foods and beverages should also be limited.
Here are some tips for reducing the amount of sugar in your diet:
- Instead of sugary drinks, drink water.
- Instead of sugary snacks, eat fruits and vegetables.
- Instead of sugar, use natural sweeteners like honey or stevia.
- Limit your consumption of processed foods.
- Instead of refined carbohydrates, choose whole-grain bread and pasta.
You Bite Your Nails
This may seem like a harmless habit, but it can damage your teeth. You can develop cracks or chips in your teeth when you bite your nails. Additionally, biting your nails can damage your teeth’s enamel, making them more prone to decay.
There are a few things you can do to kick the habit if you’re a nail-biter. Keep your nails short to start. Short nails won’t tempt you to bite them. To prevent yourself from biting, you can paint your nails with a bitter-tasting polish.
Finally, if you catch yourself biting your nails, make a conscious effort to stop. You can break the habit and protect your teeth with a little effort.
You Can Use Your Teeth As Tools
It is not a good idea to use your teeth as tools. Although they are often used to open packaging, tear-off tags, and even twist screws. Using them in these ways can damage the enamel on your teeth.
To minimize the damage caused by other uses of your teeth, you can do a few things. Avoid using your front teeth, which are especially vulnerable. Second, keep your touch light. Putting too much pressure on your teeth can cause them to crack or chip.
You need to take good care of your teeth now to ensure they will remain healthy in the future. Therefore, next time you’re tempted to use them as a tool, reconsider and find an alternative.
Summary
Many people are unaware of how certain foods, activities, or things can damage their oral health. Smoking, for example, can cause gum disease, tooth loss, and cancer of the mouth. Diets high in sugar can lead to tooth decay. Tooth decay and gum disease are also caused by not brushing and flossing.
It’s essential to be aware of what can damage your oral health so that you can take steps to avoid it. Taking good care of your teeth and making healthy choices can help you maintain a healthy mouth.
