5 of the Most Damaging Things You Do to Your Teeth (and don’t even know it)

Patients are often surprised to learn during a general dentist appointment that they have problems with their teeth. Unfortunately, a lot of seemingly find habits and actions may put the health of your mouth at risk.

1. Brushing immediately after a meal

It can sound counterintuitive, but brushing immediately after you eat or drink may actually be bad for your smile. Acidic foods can raise the pH levels in your mouth temporarily, which means when you brush right after eating, you could be inadvertently encouraging tooth enamel to break down. As a good rule of thumb, try to wait around an hour to brush after eating.

2. Chewing on hard objects

The end of your pen, your fingernails, a metal hairpin—chewing on things can be a bit of a hard-to-break habit. However, this is one habit you really should break to protect your teeth. If you are constantly nibbling on hard objects, you can wear down the enamel of your teeth in certain spots and open up your smile to a host of problems.

3. Skipping the fluoride

Fluoride can be really valuable for your teeth. The ingredient can help remineralize the enamel of your teeth, which is important to protect your teeth from decay. If you drink only filtered water without added fluoride, don’t eat foods rich in the mineral, and don’t use dental hygiene products with fluoride, you could be putting your smile at risk.

4. Using low-quality dental hygiene products

Dental hygiene is ever-important to your oral health, but you do need to use high-quality dental hygiene products. A few pointers to remember:

• Skip generic mouthwash that may cause more harm than good
• Opt for toothbrushes made by recognizable manufacturers
• Use high-quality floss or flossing tools

In general, if you look for products that have been approved by the ADA, you should be fine.

5. Chomping on sugar-ridden chewing gum

Some chewing gum can actually be good for your teeth because it helps to break down and slough away plaque. However, anything sugar-laden and especially sticky can be your oral health’s number one enemy. You are essentially keeping a wad of sugar in your mouth, which heightens levels of certain bacteria that can eat away at your tooth enamel.

Get More Tips from Your Medina Dentist

Worried about your smile? Rest assured, if you are working with a good dentist, you can negate many of the common problems with your oral health. Reach out to us at the Evanko Dental Group in Medina if you need to schedule a preventive dental appointment.