Practicing good dental hygiene every day is one of the most important factors in preserving your healthy smile for life. Yet, it isn’t all there is to protecting your teeth and smile from things that could negatively affect them later. For example, the point of good dental hygiene is largely to prevent issues from occurring by keeping your teeth clean of harmful oral bacteria each day. However, if you eat too much sugar throughout the day, or snack too often, then you might be feeding the bacteria that are present enough to make them a threat on their own.
How frequently do you snack throughout the day?
Because everyone has to eat, the frequency with which they do so can be one of the most common factors in whether or not your dental hygiene efforts are successful. The oral bacteria that gather on your teeth and lead to things like tooth decay and gingivitis are mainly a threat when they metabolize the nutrients in your food and beverages. The more often you eat, the more active these bacteria become, and the more they can threaten your healthy tooth structure and gum tissues.
Do you have a chronic teeth-grinding habit?
It isn’t always food and oral bacteria that pose the greatest threat to your teeth. If you have a chronic teeth-grinding habit, often referred to as bruxism, then the pressure and friction against your teeth could lead to a host of problems. This can include weakening the tooth enamel that protects your teeth and making it more likely for oral bacteria to compromise it, leading to tooth decay. The more it continues, the more likely the grinding habit can lead to more direct damage to your tooth, including excessive wear, fractures, breaks, and more.
Are you ignoring an existing concern with your teeth?
If a problem has already developed with one of your teeth, such as a cavity or damage to its structure, the problem is only likely to get worse over time, not better. Ignoring the problem not only leaves your tooth in danger, but can also lead to other subsequent problems that your dental hygiene routine won’t be able to prevent. The best way to protect your smile is to address the concern as soon as possible with help from your dentist.
Learn how to improve your oral health
Practicing good dental hygiene on a consistent basis is important, but there are things you may be doing that negate the effort you put into caring for your teeth. To learn more, contact our office by calling Syosset Dental in Syosset, NY, today at 516-433-2211 or 516-921-1678.
