Who doesn’t dream of a bright, beautiful, pearly-white smile? It’s something most of long for - after all, great teeth are a sign of good health, fortune, and youth.
Unfortunately, it isn’t a gift that is offered to many.
In the UK, the situation is particularly bad. There are higher numbers of tooth decay, tooth extractions, and various other oral health-related issues reported countrywide and to a large extent it’s peoples lifestyle that are contributing to poor tooth and gum health. Here we have listed the worst habits for your teeth so you can see if you are guilty of any of them and start making amends.
Avoiding your dentist
How often do you go to the dentist? If you are like other Britons, then the answer is probably “not much at all”. According to reports around 33 percent of the population do not visit their oral health practitioner as often as they should.
This is unfortunate as seeing a dentist regularly is often your first line of defence against more severe dental issues. This includes conditions such as gum disease, periodontitis, and even oral cancers. An oral health practitioner is able to notice symptoms of these problems while they are still in their early stages and as a result, they are able to use a wide variety of tactics to stop these diseases in their tracks and prevent them from progressing. Not only can this save your gums and teeth, but these methods can also prevent medical conditions elsewhere in the body as well.
Visiting a dental practitioner in the UK can be incredibly expensive, especially if you are looking at long term and more intensive treatments such as dental implants and braces. If you are looking into the prices for these services it’s worth noting that you’ll find going abroad more cost effective, for example - seeing a dentist in Turkey for this type of treatment is much cheaper than here in the UK.
Using your toothbrush incorrectly
For some reason, most people get into the habit of moving the bristles of their brush back and forth over their teeth. Now, you may think that this is getting rid of all the plaque and germs but there are actually better methods you should employ.
Instead of back and forth, you should be using short, circular movements to brush your teeth. This ensures that you are carefully cleaning the surface of each tooth. Start at the back of your mouth and then move to the other side in a clockwise direction.
It is just as important to focus on the sides of the teeth that are facing the inside of your mouth. Follow this procedure for these angles as well. Make sure to also target the back of your teeth for the upper and lower front teeth as well.
You should also get into the habit of cleaning your tongue more thoroughly. Bacteria can build up here and then spread to your teeth if you aren’t careful. So a good brushing is in order in this area as well.
Not flossing regularly
Most people think that brushing their teeth is more than enough to keep bacteria and germs at bay. However, this simply isn’t the case. While regular brushing gets rid of the bacteria on the surface of your teeth, it often has little impact on the food particles stuck between your teeth.
The presence of these particles is all bacteria and plaque need to invade your mouth again. This is why it is important to floss at least once a day. You can do it before you brush your teeth at night. Thus, you can remove any food particles that may have collected during the day.
Sipping sugary drinks all day
Many people keep track of how much sugar is added to their food. However, most don’t really think about all the sugary stuff that is added to their drinks.
By drinking sugary drinks throughout the day, your teeth are being exposed to sugar for greater amounts of time which can lead to higher levels of tooth decay and other oral health issues.
So, what should you do? Well, to start with, try to reduce your intake of sugary drinks as much as possible. Always try to opt for sugar-free drinks – water is of course the best option for your teeth and try to ditch the spoonfuls of sugar in your tea or coffee. If you indulge every now and then, try to rinse out your mouth with water afterwards.
Biting down on ice
There is something fairly irresistible about crunching down on a piece of ice. In fact, some people even take to chewing on ice to keep themselves from snacking. While this may seem like a fairly harmless activity, though, it isn’t.
Ice is incredibly hard and your teeth aren’t actually designed to withstand this pressure (or temperature). Therefore, every time you bite down on a cube, there is a chance that micro-fractures are forming on your teeth. Not only do these weaken your teeth, but they can also result in long-term damage.
It isn’t just ice that you have to watch out for, however. You should be mindful of all hard foods including fruit pits, chicken bones, and anything else that is strong enough to crack your teeth. Otherwise, you could be looking at a cracked or damaged tooth.
So, are you guilty of any of these habits? If you are, you need to start changing your ways. By eradicating some of your more harmful habits, you can increase the health of your teeth, gums and mouth as a whole.
{Reader’s Digest}