Oral Health: Don't Ignore Your GumsOral Health: Don't Ignore Your Gums

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Oral Health: Don't Ignore Your Gums

When you go to your dentist, you are likely concerned about cavities and the stains on your teeth. If you are like me, then you probably never thought much about your gums. Unfortunately, this caused me to form a serious gum recession condition. My dentist said that hard brushing practices, poor flossing techniques, and even the consumption of sugary foods led to the recession. After some deep scaling treatments, I was informed that I needed a gum graft procedure. The gums are extremely important to your health. They provide your teeth with the nutrients they need and they protect the sensitive dental roots. The gums even keep bacteria away from your jaw bone. Don't ignore your gums like I did. Read my blog and learn about proper oral care techniques. Prevention practices can easily save your gums from necessary restoration.

Avoid These 4 Bad Brushing Habits That Can Wreck Your Implant

7 June 2016
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

Nearly every adult knows that it's important to brush your teeth, floss, and swish with an effective mouthwash. However, it's easy for anyone to fall into some bad brushing habits that can wreck natural teeth as well as dental implants. In fact, you may be making dental faux pas and not even realize it. These bad habits can cause problems for your current and future oral health.

Bad Habit #1: Brushing Too Much

Brushing your teeth between two to three times is your best course of action. Some people get overly enthusiastic about brushing in their passion to have clean teeth and avoid tooth decay. Don't fall into that trap! If you brush your teeth too many times each day, you can cause too much wear and tear of both your gum tissue and the enamel on your teeth. It can also harm your dental implants. Instead, stick to two to three times each day.

Bad Habit #2: Cutting Your Time Short

You should aim to brush your teeth for at least two minutes each time you brush them. Unfortunately, most people don't time themselves and may think they brush for longer amounts of time than they actually do. One way to fulfill this suggestion is to brush each part of your mouth for 30 seconds at a time. For example, you may opt to brush the top right side of your mouth for 30 seconds, then the bottom right side for the same amount of time. From there, you can make sure to brush both the top and bottom of your left side for 30 seconds each. It should average out to 2 minutes each time you go to apply your toothbrush to your pearly whites.

Bad Habit #3: Indulging in Too Many Sweets

You may know that sugary sodas and hard candy can spell disaster for your smile, but many people don't realize that fruit juices and diet sodas can also be bad for your teeth. The general rule of thumb is that anything that is acidic or sugary is not the best choice for your teeth. You don't have to give up these sweet treats altogether, but if you indulge too often, you may cause harm to your teeth.

Bad Habit #4: Brushing with a Germ-Filled Toothbrush

The average toothbrush has a disgusting amount of germs and bacteria on it. In fact, it can hold over 10 million bacteria at one time. When a toilet flushes down feces with the lid open, bacteria and germs can go flying and ultimately land on one's toothbrush. Wash the toothbrush with hot running water before brushing your teeth and soak your toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide overnight once per week. Also, replace it every three months or when it's well worn.

Finally, keep in mind that bad habits can be turned around. Just because you've been doing something that's not good for you doesn't mean you need to keep doing it. Make the commitment to choose good dental habits today. Consult with your dentist for additional info.