Brushing and flossing are certainly important for our oral health, but they won’t keep your teeth healthy on their own. According to experts, we make far too many mistakes while taking care of our teeth. Which results in tooth decay and cavities as well as further oral problems.
Here are the common 8 mistakes we make when taking care of our teeth:
Brushing too hard
Brushing hard can bend the hairs of the toothbrush and won’t remove food deposits completely. Furthermore, hard brushing can also damage your gums and cause a variety of oral problems.
We never pay attention to what we eat
Eating sugary treats can accelerate tooth decay, but to make sure our teeth stay healthy, we should add some phosphorus, calcium, and fluorine in our diet. Calcium can be found in dairy products, fish, beans, and fruits, while phosphorus can be found in nuts, cereal, lentils and certain types of fish. We get most of the fluorine from through water, but if that’s not enough, you can also find it in milk, salt, and other foods.
Not using other tools than a toothbrush
No matter how expensive your toothbrush is, it will never clean your mouth fully. This is why you should floss as well, and use a high-quality brush and mouthwash. Oral irrigators work wonders for your oral health as well. It will also clean the bacteria from your tongue and give your gums a micro-massage, effectively preventing a variety of oral problems.
Pay more attention to your diet
Weak gums won’t allow proper blood supply in the teeth, which can result in periodontitis, a disease which makes the gums bleed and inflames them as well, revealing the neck of the teeth and exposing them to a variety of problems. To strengthen your gums, give them a nice massage every once in a while with your fingers or toothbrush, or chew solid food thoroughly. Using sage tea or oak bark as mouthwash can also help. In cases of bleeding gums, it’s best to visit a dentist.
Eliminate the tartar
Dental tartar is a hardened film on the teeth created by an accumulation of bacteria, saliva and food residue which sticks to them. Dental tartar has a dark yellow color and can only be removed by a professional treatment. Tartar accumulation can lead to periodontal disease and inflame the area around the teeth and looks pretty unpleasant as well. Visit your dentist for a tartar cleaning procedure once or twice a year in order to soften and remove the tartar from your teeth.
Don’t think you’re old for braces
Many people think that straightening the teeth only work in our teens, but this is a common misconception. You can wear braces if you’re older and they will work just as good. If your teeth are twisted and curved, it can destroy them easily, resulting in decay and cavities. If you’re embarrassed by the idea of wearing regular braces, get those lingual invisible ones which are placed on the back of the teeth.
Chewing on one side of the mouth
Chewing solid food slowly has cleansing properties and is vital for your teeth. By chewing on one side, you’re increasing the risk of tooth decay and cavities on that side and strengthening the muscles on the same side as well. This will make the jaw muscles asymmetric, resulting in pain and even hearing problems. Pay more attention to your chewing habits and make sure to chew on both sides of your mouth to prevent further problems.
Teach your children to take good care of their teeth and gums
Some people think that milk teeth don’t need proper care, which is completely wrong. A child should know how to care for its teeth just like adults – the brushing should last 2-3 minutes and the brush should move vertically. The enamel on milk teeth is easily destroyed, and the fissures on children’s grinder teeth are far deeper, which means that the food particles left behind are harder to eliminate. Teach your children to brush their teeth properly so they can make it into a habit which can protect their teeth later.
Bonus tip
In general, you should replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. However, this doesn’t mean that you should throw out the old toothbrush. Here’s what you can do with it:
- An old toothbrush can massage and scrub your lips;
- Use your old toothbrush to clean your nails thoroughly;
- You can also use your old toothbrush to clean potatoes and brush and dye your eyebrows;
- An old toothbrush can become a powerful tool for cleaning the toilet bowl, your shoes or the spaces between tiles.
- Heat the handle of your old toothbrush to make it more flexible and use it to reach tough areas when cleaning.
Source: brightside.me
