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Put Your Teeth First and Avoid These Common Oral Care Missteps

oral-surgeryBeing good to your teeth can take some time and effort, but all of that care pays off when you have a healthy looking smile that can also do the required tasks you need it to. There are several common mistakes that people fall prey to in caring for their teeth-below are some of the usual suspects. Make sure to adhere to these guidelines and avoid the typical errors folks can make - leading to serious oral problems if left unchecked.

Keep Your Sugar Consumption Within Reason

Sugar has come into the spotlight for a variety of health concerns including its links to obesity. Another way it can harm those who ingest it is the damage it does to teeth. Its acidic properties can erode the tooth enamel, making them yellower and overly sensitive. As it's unlikely to expect that you will avoid sugary items entirely, try to limit your consumption to directly after a meal and rinse your mouth with water post-ingestion. This helps mitigate the results.

Use Your Teeth as Intended

Many people use their pearly whites for situations where other tools are called for: biting nails, opening plastic bags, and even opening bottles. This should be avoided, as they are not intended for these types of jobs and can become damaged as a result. They also get more vulnerable as they age, just as the rest of your body does, and should be protected to forestall further damage.

Be Diligent About Brushing and Flossing

Everyone knows that brushing and flossing are crucial for proper oral care, however knowing is not the same as doing and many people are slacking on these fundamentals. For the best practices, brush twice daily for a minimum of two minutes per time and floss once. Also try:

  • an electric toothbrush for more plaque-removing power than your manual one
  • start in a different place in your mouth each time to give your cleaning more balance
  • don't forget to clean along the gum line and on your teeth backs

See Your Dentist Regularly

It's tempting to put off seeing your dental professional until there's a problem with your teeth, but this is a mistake because once you notice an issue, it's usually pretty bad. Making sure you sit in your dentist's chair as recommended is a way to remain diligent on your oral hygiene and catch issues before they become serious situations.

If you have any questions, please ask below!