Too many of us take our teeth for granted. We give little thought to how important they are in our lives. As we’re chewing, speaking, and smiling, our teeth are doing their part to serve their physical and social function. But all too frequently, we don’t do our best to take care of them. To keep them strong and healthy, we honestly need to put more time into thinking about our dental health. To that end, let’s take a look at the top causes of tooth damage and what you can do to prevent it.
The Top Causes of Tooth Damage
Below you will find the top causes of tooth damage. While there are many ways to deal with damaged teeth, we recommend dental crowns Orange County. At the best dentist Irvine has, you will receive personalized care that is tailored to your unique needs.
Damaged Teeth
There are honestly a lot of ways you can easily damage your teeth. Not wearing a mouth guard while playing a contact sport, hitting the pavement at the skate park, or even tripping over the cat in the hallway. Chipped, broken, or missing teeth can happen unexpectedly, and it isn’t always preventable. However, the most common ways we damage our teeth don’t come out of nowhere. The damage happens gradually.
Poor Oral Hygiene
Poor oral hygiene is one of the most common causes of tooth decay and gum disease. Ideally, you should be brushing your teeth with toothpaste after eating. The physical action of the toothbrush helps to remove sugars and bacteria, which can irritate the gums and erode the teeth over time. This isn’t always practical in the modern world, so dentists suggest people should brush at least twice a day, after breakfast and after dinner. Plaque formation can begin as early as four hours after eating but can take as long as forty-eight hours to harden. This means that brushing twice a day is usually good enough to stay ahead of plaque.
In addition to brushing twice a day, you should also floss and rinse your mouth with mouthwash once per day. Flossing helps to remove sugars and bacteria from the top edge of the tooth, keeping it away from your sensitive gums. Mouthwash helps to kill bacteria in the rest of the oral cavity and tight spaces where you couldn’t quite reach. While flossing and rinsing, make sure you’re using the correct flossing technique and following the instructions on your mouthwash.
Medically Harmful Lifestyle Choices
Unfortunately, smoking and drinking alcohol aren’t just bad for your major organs. They are also bad for your teeth. Both reduce the flow of saliva in your mouth, which is your body’s natural mouth wash. As a result, more sugars and bacteria stay on your teeth for longer periods, contributing to increased rates of tooth decay. In addition, the sugar in alcohol and the chemicals in cigarettes also contribute to plaque build-up. That means that smoking and drinking hit your teeth in two different ways, substantially increasing the risk of tooth decay and gingivitis.
Poor Diet
A healthy diet is relatively low in sugars and simple carbohydrates, both of which are linked to increased rates of tooth decay. Unfortunately, it can be quite hard to get away from them in the United States. Given the widespread use of corn syrup, artificial flavors, and white bread, sugars and simple carbs are found in many places you wouldn’t expect to find them. Both dietary components have a propensity to stick to your teeth, where bacteria feed on them and produce the acids that erode your enamel. You may choose to learn to read labels to avoid a surplus of these components in your diet. But a daily diet that is high in fresh vegetables and whole grains is honestly easier.
Dealing with Top Causes of Tooth Damage
If it’s a little too late and you’re already dealing with tooth decay, don’t worry. Your local dentist is here to help you get back on track. They can provide you with a professional cleaning and do x-rays of your teeth to check for cavities. Even if the damage is extensive, porcelain fused to metal crown can be used to protect the core of the tooth from further damage. Once your cavities have been filled and your more damaged teeth have been crowned, you can return your focus to keeping your smile happy and healthy.