5 HABITS YOUR DENTIST IN ENGLEWOOD SAYS YOU SHOULD DROP TODAY
When all you’re thinking about in your daily life is your family, your work, or your friends, it can be easy to not even notice how the habits you perform are hurting your oral health in the long-term. Some of these habits may be obvious, but others may actually surprise you. Either way, your dentist in Englewood knows that by cutting them out of your life, your teeth will thank you later, as well as your wallet.
Here are five to get you started.
Drinking Tea And Coffee
It’s probably more known that coffee’s rich pigmentation is the perfect substance for staining teeth, giving it a yellow complexion. However, did you know that dark-colored teas can also stain teeth? This staining occurs due to your enamel’s natural texture. While enamel may feel smooth to the touch, it actually has many microscopic crevices for liquid to seep into.
Instead of drinking coffee or tea throughout the day, just have a single cup, followed by rinsing your mouth or brushing your teeth afterwards.
Eating Sugar-filled Foods
Snacking is a poor habit for many working people across the country. While we know sugar can damage teeth, it’s worth mentioning that technically it’s not the sugar itself doing the damage. It’s actually the oral bacteria known as Streptococcus mutans, which consumes sugar and releases acids as a byproduct. To reduce your risk of cavities and tooth decay, make sure to floss and remove loose food debris. You can also have a larger and more balanced meal that reduces your snack cravings.
Swimming In Chlorinated Pools
While swimming is an incredibly healthy exercise, too much swimming can damage tooth enamel. Since there’s no way to avoid getting pool water in your mouth when swimming, swimming every day can expose your teeth to harmful chlorine. Luckily, this is only the case if the pool’s pH levels are above seven.
Drinking Wine Daily
Wine is one of the worst culprits for staining teeth. Not only does its rich pigmentation seep into enamel, but it’s acidity does it no extra favors. If you don’t want to reduce your current intake, you can easily sip it through a straw. Just make sure to not swish it around inside your mouth!
Overbrushing
Many patients believe if they brush extra hard in the morning, they won’t need to brush later in the evening. Not only is this not true, but it can actually damage your teeth permanently. Patients do not need to be brushing for longer than two minutes at a time, nor do they need to brush more than twice a day. To prevent enamel erosion, teeth sensitivity, and receding gums, don’t overbrush!
Eliminating these habits will improve your oral health for life! Schedule an appointment with your dentist in Englewood to learn how much of a difference cutting them out can make!
About The Author
Dr. C. Romesh Weerasooriya earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the University of Florida College of Dentistry. He’s also pursued over 1,000 hours of continuing education from multiple dental institutions. This helps him bring the most up-to-date dental knowledge to patients every day. To learn more about his practice, contact your Englewood dentist through his website.