You’ve heard the phrases before: “nobody’s perfect” or “mistakes happen,” but what happens when those mistakes happen with your oral health routine? Well, we probably don’t need to tell you it’s not usually good. But how can you prevent oral health mistakes if you don’t even know you’re making them?
While we do technically get two sets of teeth (one in childhood and one set of adult teeth), teeth aren’t replaceable, so it’s always a good idea to protect the set you have. Here are some common oral health mistakes, and what you should do to prevent them – and protect that precious set of pearly whites!
Not Caring For Oral Hygiene
The biggest mistake you can make with your teeth is simply not caring for them. Be sure you are brushing twice a day, for at least two minutes at a time, and flossing at least once per day. This can ward off problems like bad breath, cavities, and gum disease, just to name a few.
On the other hand, beware of brushing too hard. This can scratch the enamel and cause receding gums, so always brush gently and try to stick to a medium bristled toothbrush unless otherwise advised by Dr. Abelar.
Using Your Teeth For Tools
Struggling to get that wrapper open? Don’t tear it with your teeth! This is a great way to chip or crack healthy teeth and cause permanent damage. Instead, use scissors or your hands, and leave your teeth for chewing on food! Other dangerous culprits include crunching ice and biting nails, so please don’t use your teeth for those activities, either!
Smoking or Tobacco Use
Tobacco not only causes bad breath and tooth stains, it can also cause gum disease and oral cancer. This includes cigarettes, pipes, chewing tobacco, and yes, even vaping. If you smoke, now is the perfect time to quit. If you don’t, don’t start.
Tooth Filing
Yes, this is apparently a problem. There is a growing trend of people trying to file down their own teeth with a nail file to make their teeth appear more even. This can cause permanent damage to the teeth, and if you file away too much of the teeth, you can expose nerves and require dental intervention such as a root canal to repair the damage! Worse yet, dangerous bacteria living on your nail file can infect the teeth and gums. If you’re unhappy with the look of your smile, speak to Dr. Abelar about your cosmetic dentistry options. Don’t take matters into your own hands!
Another disturbing trend is do it yourself orthodontics, whether done at home with office supplies (yes, this is a thing) or getting braces by mail. Please leave the orthodontics to Dr. Abelar. Mistakes with DIY orthodontics can lead to everything from worsening the initial problem to lost teeth!
Skipping Your Checkup
Don’t let oral hygiene problems get out of hand or develop because you didn’t make it to see Dr. Abelar this year. Make sure you are scheduling (and attending!) your regular dental exams twice per year. This will help not only keep your teeth looking and feeling sparkly clean, it can help you be aware of any problems forming in the mouth. Don’t worry! If we do find any issues, we can treat them before they get worse, saving you a lot of trouble down the road.
To learn more tips for your teeth, schedule your appointment with Dr. Abelar today!
