One of the most valuable tools that you have in your body are your teeth. Thanks to them, you can chew, bite, and smile. Not only are they great tools, but they contribute to our overall health in more ways than many people realize.
Taking your teeth for granted by mistreating them isn’t only an expensive mistake, but it’s also a dangerous one. Taking care of your teeth can significantly reduce the risk of a variety of health problems from dementia to cancer. Healthy teeth can even increase your life expectancy. They can also make people more confident in their daily lives, so it’s important that people do care for their teeth. If they don’t, the teeth could begin to stain and turn yellow. This isn’t ideal or attractive, so many people do end up visiting their dentist for veneers. This is where dentists file the teeth down to bond a new tooth on top. This makes the teeth look whiter and cleaner. Don’t worry, filing down teeth for veneers is not painful. It provides people with attractive teeth afterwards. However, people could avoid this by taking care of their teeth.
So, how do you preserve your pearly whites? The secret lies more in what you shouldn’t be doing with them even more than what you should be doing with them. Here are five of the worst things that you can do to your teeth.
Never Go To The Dentist
Don’t even think about skipping that dental appointment! Attending regular check-ups can reduce your risk of dental problems by as much as 60%! Although there are many reasons why people decide not to go to the dentist, such as being afraid of the dentist, believing they don’t have enough time to visit, or are even worried about a possible language barrier, it is still important to go. Some of these issues can easily be fixed; for instance, most dental practices cater to patients from different backgrounds, so whether you’re Spanish, German, or French, language isn’t much of an issue and don’t outweigh the dental and health problems you could face later.
Many dental problems aren’t detected until they’ve advanced to the point of no return. It’s vital that in addition to daily brushing and flossing that you visit your dentist twice a year. They’ll perform a cleaning as well as a check-up on all of your teeth.
Smoking
It’s no secret that smoking is bad for your lungs, but have you ever stopped to think about what it’s doing to your teeth? The products in tobacco stain your teeth and give them a yellow hue.
When you combine smoking with other vices like excessive coffee drinking and wine, your teeth are probably far from white. If vanity wasn’t enough to convince you not to smoke, you should also know that smoking increases your chances of gum disease significantly!
Opening Things With Your Teeth
As any dentist how many visits a week are patients, who attempt to use their teeth as a tool? Your teeth were made for chewing. Not cutting, not ripping, not tearing.
Do yourself a favor and use your teeth what they were meant for and leave the cutting to tools like scissors.
Teeth Grinding
Many people grind their teeth at night without even realizing it. One of the best ways to tell if you’re grinding your teeth is to take note of whether they feel loose or sore.
If yes, you should invest in a mouthguard to avoid doing major damage on your teeth.
Drinking Soda
Soda is packed with sugar and harmful acids that erode your teeth’s enamel, increasing your risk of cavities. The high sugar content in soda feeds bacteria in the mouth, leading to the production of acids that further damage enamel. Beyond promoting cavities, soda consumption can also yellow your pearly whites, necessitating the use of Home Teeth Whitening kits or other alternatives.
Dark-colored sodas contain chromogens, compounds that stain tooth enamel, while the acidic nature of all sodas weakens enamel, making it more porous and prone to discoloration. Additionally, the erosion of enamel reveals the dentin underneath, which is naturally more yellow. Regular consumption of soda can therefore lead to a dull, yellowish appearance of your teeth, compromising both their health and aesthetics.
To counteract these effects, maintaining good oral hygiene, reducing soda intake, and using whitening products can help preserve the brightness and health of your smile. You can also get regular teeth cleaning at a Stauffer Family Dental, or one in your area, who will provide advice on how to maintain good health. During the cleanings, they will also assess the damage done to your teeth due to sugar, so that you can start cutting down. Furthermore, drinking through a straw and rinsing your mouth with water after consuming soda can minimize direct contact with your teeth, reducing the potential for damage and staining.
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