More often than not, we get patients in who have been enduring such a rough schedule, that they find themselves admitting they neglect their dental health on a daily basis. First off, it’s normal for this to occur, especially in patients with hectic lives, jobs, kids and responsibilities that take away from self care.
However, it’s imperative you take the steps to prevent further damage, since you will unfortunately not be able to reverse it as easily.
Between living life, working, dating and just existing in today’s day and age, it’s incredibly hard to remember to take care of yourself. That’s why we prepared four different ways you can save your teeth before cavities and infections start to grow.
1. BRUSH YOUR TEETH ON A DAILY BASIS—DON’T FORGET QUALITY TOOTHPASTE!
While it might seem like an utter chore, it’s important to make the act of brushing your teeth a daily routine. This includes the nights where you come home at 3am—if you can take your makeup off, you can absolutely brush your teeth. Play your favorite song as you get ready in the morning and always remember to get the back of your mouth; this will help to avoid cavities that can fester into larger issues such as infections even dentists cannot reach without surgery. Lastly, use quality toothpaste, and avoid the ‘fads’, such as organic toothpaste that lacks fluoride, since it proves no legitimacy to helping fight plaque and tartar buildup.
2. DRINK MORE WATER!
You’d be shocked to find how many patients admit to drinking no water throughout the day. Beyond your oral health, drinking 3-4 liters of water a day can help to improve your sleep, mood, balance, brain function and even skin. No wonder why there’s so many products out there to make water more drinkable or to even taste better! By drinking more water, you’re washing away the excess gunk off of your teeth post-eating or drinking, which can help to prevent cavities from starting.
3. NO MORE VAPES, HOOKAH, CIGARETTES OR SMOKING.
It’s no secret that smoking not only can kill you over time, but it can cause severe damage to your teeth. We constantly see patients 20 years after smoking that have irreversible damage to their gums, bone structure and/or front teeth because they chose to smoke for so long—in short, your teeth take the majority of the hit from cigarettes or other smoking products when you inhale, causing erosion, decay and infection over time.
4. AVOID EXCESSIVE CITRUS OR SUGAR.
Did you know that citrus can actually cause cavities? That’s right—instead of drinking your Crystal Lite or squeezing half a lemon in your water, consider diluting it with a smaller portion or instead infusing your water for a shorter amount of time. Citrus and sugar actually assist in cavities sticking to your teeth, making it harder to put in a filling and instead has a direct lead to needing a root canal.
If you ever wonder what is good for your teeth, you know where to turn! Our Beverly Hills dental office assists in several cases, ranging from treating solely functionality to total smile makeovers.
