Taking care of your smile takes diligence and a certain level of foresight. Our O’Fallon dentists help all of our dental patients develop healthy habits for their smiles. In this article we’ll be listing some things in your daily routine that can put your smile at risk. We hope that after reading this article you’ll feel better informed about the ways in which you can protect your smile in your everyday life.
Let’s get started!
1. Sticky foods
When you eat sticky foods, it is very likely that parts of these substances will get stuck in your smile. Oral bacteria will feed off of these food particles, and release harmful acids as they multiply. Try to rinse your mouth with water, or floss away food particles, in order to avoid these issues.
2. Hard candies and ice
Hard candies and ice can really damage your teeth if you regularly chew and chomp on theses things. Chewing these things can actually cause micro-cracks to develop on your teeth. These cracks and chips can accumulate stains and leave your teeth susceptible to infection and further damage.
3. Acidic substances
Popular beverages like fruit juices, soft drinks, and wine can damage your smile due to their high acidic contents. Acid causes your dental enamel to de-mineralize and weaken. So if you are going to eat or drink substances with a lot of acid, please rinse your smile with water shortly after acid exposure. Don’t brush your teeth right away, though—your enamel is actually softer in the 20 to 30 minutes after acid exposure, so brushing may thin enamel.
When you take the time to develop healthy oral hygiene habits, you help your smile remain healthy and strong for years to come. As always our O’Fallon dentists are here to give you any additional information that you may need!