Over 90% of those surveyed say that the smile is the first thing they notice about other people.
A stunning smile conveys a wealth of information in once second– happiness, confidence, warmth and attractiveness can all shine through an easy, attractive smile. And underlying a stunning smile is a stunning set of teeth.
Sometimes, however, habits that we rarely even think about can damage the health of our teeth and appearance of our smile without our even knowing it.
In fact, it is possible that some of your habits are creating dental problems that you are unaware of. My Local Dentists West Ryde is here to point out some of those bad habits and help you root them out!
Check out some of these bad habits and learn how to control them before you cause unnecessary damage to your teeth or oral health.
Harmful Daily Habits
Using your teeth as tools – Opening packages, prying lids off bottles, or tearing things with your teeth are all ways to damage your teeth. These habits cause cracks and chips that can lead to worse dental damage. Don’t use your teeth as tools. Instead, use scissors or bottle openers to do the hard work, so your teeth don’t have to.
Chewing things other than food
Many people chew on hard objects, particularly pens or pencils. However chewing on a pencil or pen, or anything that shouldn’t be in your mouth, can crack teeth or cause them to chip. To stop chewing on these kinds of items, just think of all the unsanitary places they are stored. Your desk, backpack, and pencil-holders are all extremely unclean areas, and you don’t want to track the dirt, grime, or germs from them into your mouth.
Many people believe it is safe to chew ice. It’s only made of water, after all. What could be more innocent? And it doesn’t contain sugar or any other additives known to be bad for teeth. But chewing on hard substances can leave your teeth vulnerable to a dental emergency and damage enamel. And the contrasts in temperature it causes can quickly lead teeth or fillings to chip or crack.
If you have to chew something, chew sugarless gum. Gum is soft, increases saliva flow, washes away left over bacteria, and re-mineralizes teeth.
“Exercise” Caution
Cardiovascular Exercise. Vigorous exercise has been proven to improve you health— except perhaps for the health of your teeth. This news is according to a surprising study of athletes in The Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. The survey discovered that intense cardiovascular training may lead to dental problems.
During heavy exercise, the amount of saliva that athletes produce progressively drops. Mouths dry up, whether the athletes have consumed liquids or not. The saliva’s chemical composition also shifts, becoming increasingly alkaline. Excessively alkaline saliva leads to the development of tartar on teeth – and other dental problems.
Impact Exercise. When Australian boxer Jeff Horn won the WBO Welterweight Championship, he was able to celebrate with a smile! This is because he had a custom-made mouth-guard, which protected him from damage. If you play high impact sports, be like Jeff – visit us at My Local Dentists West Ryde and have us fit you a custom mouth-guard to protect your dental health!
Exercise in Pools. The chemicals present in swimming pools, particularly chlorine, are linked to enamel erosion. The Journal of the Canadian Dental Association reports that regular swimming over more than an 8-month period can cause rapid increases in dental erosion and sensitivity. If you do swim try to keep excess water out of your mouth, and try to use less-chlorinated pools.
Dental Health Habits that can turn into Negatives
Overbrushing – Some people brush multiple times a day – especially after meals. But that post-meal brushing can damage your teeth. After eating acidic foods or drinks, acid burns into the enamel of your teeth and the layer below the enamel, called ‘dentin’. Brushing within 30 minutes of a meal can force the acid deeper into your teeth, leading to permanent damage.
Brushing too hard – According to a study by experts at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne’s School of Dental Sciences and the Centre for Health Services Research, people who brush longer and harder actually put their teeth at risk. Brush gently, with a soft-bristled brush at 45 degrees to your gumline, or consider purchasing an electric toothbrush.
My Local Dentists West Ryde Advantage
At My Local Dentists West Ryde, we provide you with personalised service. All our dentists are highly motivated and accredited practitioners with graduate degrees from the University of Sydney. As well as the dentists, the supporting staff at My Local Dentists West Ryde are highly dedicated and experienced to ensure each visit with us is comfortable as possible.
Special Offer for New Patients
GAP FREE
- General Check-up
- Scale and Clean
- X-rays and Fluoride treatment (with any health insurance)
Call your West Ryde dentist on (02) 9809 7000 or simply book your appointment online TODAY!