Want To Keep Your Enamel Healthy? Avoid Doing These 10 Things - Family and Cosmetic Dentistry

cosmetic dentistry Allen Park

When it comes to keeping the enamel of your teeth healthy and intact, your friends at Allen Park Dental Care remind you there are definitely some things you should never day. Read on!

1. Chewing on hard foods

We’re looking at you, bone-in ribs and hard candy.

2. Chewing on hard items

This includes fingernails, pencils, pen caps, and ice.

3. Grinding your teeth

If you grind your teeth, counsel with your dentist. An appliance can protect your smile.

4. Eating too much sticky food

Gummy candy, dried fruit, and even protein bars can break teeth.

5. Drinking anything besides water frequently

If your teeth are bathed in soda (sugared or diet), juice, coffee, or sports drinks habitually, you are asking for dental trouble.

6. Playing sports without a mouthguard

Sports pose a major risk of tooth damage. Most children are required to wear a protective mouthguard on the playing field. But fewer adults wear mouthguards for recreational activities like mountain biking and skiing. Stock mouthguards are one-size-fits-all but rarely fit well. Custom-fitted mouthguards from your dentist are more comfortable than the cheap boil-and-bite type.

7. Using a hard-bristled toothbrush

A hard-bristled tooth brush can weaken teeth and cause gums to pull away. Brush away food bits and plaque with a soft (or extra-soft) toothbrush.

8. Ignoring dry mouth

Saliva is important. Saliva rinses food fragments off of teeth and helps neutralize acids. It also helps clean the teeth of leftover food bits, helping to prevent plaque buildup. Constant dry mouth, or xerostomia, can lead to cavities. Talk to your dentist if you have dry mouth frequently.

9. Using teeth as tools

Locate a pair of scissors to open a package or pry the lid of a medicine bottle. Use a nutcracker if you are eating unshelled nuts. A quality dental crown can cost over five hundred dollars.

10. Ignoring jaw pain

If you notice inexplicable jaw pain or notice a clicking sound, be sure to schedule an appointment with your dentist ASAP! These symptoms can be signs of a serious condition called temporomandibular disorder or TMD.

Is it too late? Have you already broken or chipped a tooth? We can repair it at Allen Park Dental Care. Our services include family dentistry. Schedule your next checkup with us today!