If you want to keep your teeth and gums strong and healthy, it is important to maintain proper oral care. However, there are a lot of bad habits that can affect the condition of your oral cavity and lead to severe consequences.
Unfortunately, many people don't understand that even seemingly harmless things like wooden toothpicks or insufficient water consumption can significantly worsen your oral health. In this article, we have gathered seven harmful habits that can destroy your teeth and gums.
1. You don’t maintain proper oral hygiene
Proper oral hygiene trends to be one of the most important factors that help keep your teeth and gums healthy. It is essential to brush your teeth twice a day for 2-3 minutes to remove dental plaque, food particles, and bacteria from your mouth.
But tooth brushing is not the only step in daily oral care. Many people think that flossing is not necessary, but the truth is that only dental floss can reach debris that gets stuck between your teeth. That's why you shouldn't forget to use floss at least once a day.
2. You use wooden toothpicks
If you tend to use wooden toothpicks to remove food particles from your interdental space, it's high time to get rid of this habit. A wooden toothpick can scratch your tooth enamel, injure your gums, and even enlarge the space between your teeth. If you want to get rid of food debris, it is better to use dental floss.
3. You don’t follow a healthy diet
The foods you eat have a great impact on your oral health. If you tend to consume junk foods and snack with cookies or candies, it is not surprising that your teeth and gums will become damaged over time.
If you want to have healthy teeth and gums, you need to avoid processed, sugary, and acidic foods. Try to eat more vegetables, fruits, leafy greens, nuts, dairy products, and fatty fish to supply your teeth and gums with all the necessary vitamins and minerals.
4. You don’t drink enough water
Insufficient water consumption can lead to many negative consequences. Dehydration causes a lack of saliva. Saliva helps remove food particles and bacteria from your mouth. That's why it is extremely important to drink enough water.
5. You smoke
Smoking tends to be one of the most harmful habits that affect your overall health. As for oral health, smoking can contribute to bad breath, teeth discoloration, the development of gum disease, and tartar build-up.
When you smoke, tobacco by-products accumulate on your teeth and mix with dental plaque. This leads to the formation of tartar and bacteria overgrowth. As a result, your teeth become dark and your gums inflamed.
6. You use your teeth as a tool
Many people use their teeth to tear packages or open bottles instead of using scissors and bottle openers. This can result in gum injuries and fractured teeth. You should understand that it is cheaper to buy a special tool rather than restore your teeth or treat gums.
7. You don’t visit your dentist regularly
It is essential to understand that regular visits to the dentist can help prevent severe complications caused by oral issues. For example, people with severe gum disease (periodontitis) that wasn't treated in time can lose all their teeth. In this case, they will have to get full mouth dental implants or dentures.
If you want to keep your teeth and gums healthy, you need to visit your dentist at least twice a year. A professional dentist can evaluate the condition of your oral cavity and perform an accurate treatment if needed.
The bottom line
You should understand that your oral health depends on your daily care, habits, diet, and timely treatment of oral issues. It is possible to avoid many complications if you constantly take care of your teeth and gums.