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The mouth can act as a mirror to your body and its general health. Since your teeth are the first thing someone will notice about you, it’s important to take care of your mouth to ensure that you have good breath, a pleasant smile, and an overall welcoming appearance. When it comes to dental hygiene, it’s the little things that make the biggest difference.
Dr. Ritika Malhotra, Head of Department, Department of Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery, Shalby Sanar International Hospital, Gurugram shares some dental mistakes that you may be committing knowingly or unknowingly:
Faulty Brushing Technique: Brushing horizontally instead of vertically and with circular strokes is not the right way to clean your teeth. Additionally, brushing your teeth vigorously can wear away the enamel.
Wrong toothbrush: Use toothbrushes that are hard rather than soft as toothbrushes with hard bristles can damage tooth enamel.
Abrasive Toothpaste: You should avoid using toothpaste that contains cloves, salt, or any other abrasive ingredients. Instead, use gel-based fluoridated toothpaste as these are gentle on teeth while working.
Not brushing twice: Although it may seem strange, brushing at night is more important than brushing your teeth in the morning. Additionally, at night, reduced saliva production in the mouth leads to more bacteria and accumulation, which can lead to tooth decay.
Excessive consumption of sweets: Eating or drinking too many sugary products and not washing your mouth regularly promote tooth decay. Besides, it is also not good for your health. Make sure you rinse your mouth thoroughly after eating chocolate, candy, and sweetened soda drinks.
Smoking/chewing tobacco: Using tobacco or smoking can harm your oral hygiene, yellowing your teeth as well as your overall health.
Ignoring the first symptoms: Bad breath, bleeding gums and sensitivity of teeth to cold are the first symptoms of dental problems. Don’t ignore these signs. Visit your dentist once in six months as the underlying problem may have worsened.
Uses of toothpicks: Avoid removing food particles stuck between your teeth with a toothpick. Instead, floss. Along with brushing, this is an essential step in removing plaque from between your teeth.
Excessive consumption of sour foods and aerated beverages: The acidic nature of food and beverages consumed can cause enamel erosion over time.
Avoiding professional cleaning: You should get scaling or professional cleaning done once in six months. Failure to do so can result in plaque and tartar accumulation, which can lead to gum disease. Additionally, pregnant women are more likely to have swollen gums and persistent receding gums due to hormonal changes. Even if you’re pregnant, get a professional cleaning done.
Not starting oral health care early in life: Ignoring your oral hygiene regime or not taking care of milk teeth since childhood can be harmful for the child. It is also important to develop good habits at an early age.
Excessive use of mouthwash: If you use mouthwash for more than three weeks continuously your teeth may become stained. It should also not be used immediately after brushing as the ingredients in toothpaste react with the ingredients in mouthwash.
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