Mistakes to Avoid When Caring for Your Teeth

mom with her two daughters

Caring for your teeth is an important part of maintaining good health. Teeth that are neglected can develop gum disease and painful cavities, but those are not the only consequences of poor dental hygiene. Your oral health impacts the health of your entire body, so it’s vital to keep your mouth as healthy as possible. Aside from giving you a healthy smile, dental care can help you live a longer, healthier life when done correctly. When you’re caring for your teeth, make sure you’re avoiding these mistakes.

Brushing too frequently or too infrequently: It’s great to be enthusiastic about caring for your teeth, don’t go crazy with it. Brushing more than two or three times a day can damage your gums and wear away your tooth enamel. On the other hand, if you don’t brush often enough, you’ll have bad breath and may develop cavities and gum disease. Eventually, neglecting your dental hygiene will cause you to lose your teeth. What’s the right balance? Brush your teeth two or three time a day and floss once.
Brushing at the wrong times: You might think it’s good to brush as soon as you eat, to remove any remnants of your snack. Unfortunately, if you brush immediately, you risk pushing acid from your foods further into the protective enamel layer, damaging your teeth’s surface. Ideally, wait 30 minutes after eating to brush.
Only brushing your teeth: Let’s face it: hardly anyone enjoys flossing. Like it or not, it’s an important part of your oral hygiene routine because it gets rid of food and debris you can’t reach with a toothbrush. While you’re cleaning your mouth, scrub your tongue with a toothbrush or tongue scraper, and gently massage your gums with your toothbrush.
Applying the wrong pressure when you brush: Brushing too gently won’t clean your teeth, and brushing too hard can damage your gums and erode your enamel.
Keeping your toothbrush too long: To maximize effectiveness and minimize the accumulation of bacteria on your toothbrush, replace it every three to four months.
Over-whitening your teeth: Over-whitened teeth can sustain damage, becoming sensitive and painful.
Avoiding the dentist: To keep your teeth in top condition, see your dentist twice a year. Your dentist can catch problems before they become major issues, helping to preserve your oral health

At Smile Zone Dental, we provide a broad range of dental services in addition to general care like teeth cleanings and oral exams. Services like cosmetic dentistry, restorative services, and dentures are all designed to help you maintain good oral health and a beautiful smile. Our doctors have years of education, training, and hands-on experience, and use the latest in techniques and technology. Our friendly office staff and compassionate dental assistants will make you feel welcome and comfortable, and you can be confident that you’re receiving the very best dental care. We have locations in Canton, Fort Gratiot, and Monroe to serve you- contact us through our website to learn more.