If you have found it difficult to avoid problems with cavities, despite staying focused on good oral hygiene, some behavioral changes can be beneficial. In many cases, issues with poor dental health can be traced back to poor teeth cleaning habits or a lack of routine dental exams. With that said, there are other behaviors that can affect you without your realizing it. Your stress levels, your hydration, and other factors can impact your ability to protect your smile. Our St. Louis, MO dentist’s office is here to help patients who have questions about how to improve their routine. By making positive adjustments to your day, you can avoid further trouble with your oral health!
Make Sure You Stay Hydrated
We are encouraged to drink water throughout the day because it helps us maintain our overall health. Your smile can gain more benefits from good hydration than you realize. One reason for this is that when you regularly drink water, particularly as a substitute for flavored beverages, you limit the exposure of your enamel to sugar and particles that stain teeth. Water also helps because it makes washing away food debris easier. Another benefit to good hydration is the ability to prevent dry mouth. Saliva serves as a natural protector for our teeth, as it helps break down and rinse away food debris, and it can also help us neutralize bacteria! When you are poorly hydrated, saliva production can be more difficult, leading to problems.
Remember To Floss At Least Once A Day
People who feel good about their current oral hygiene routine sometimes fail to realize they are missing an important practice. If you are not flossing on a daily basis, you will have a difficult time keeping the spaces between your teeth clean. While there is little room for the bristles of a brush in the areas where teeth meet, bacteria and food particles can find their way in. By flossing daily, you remove them and protect yourself against cavities as well as gum disease!
Limit Your Intake Of Caffeine
Caffeinated drinks often contain high amounts of sugar, so their consumption can make you more likely to develop cavities that have to be treated with dental fillings or dental crowns. While there are sources of caffeine that are not rich in sugar, like unsweetened coffee and tea, these beverages can leave you with stained teeth that embarrass you. Caffeine consumption, particularly when it occurs later in the day, can also be a potential cause of nightly teeth grinding.
Our St. Louis, MO Dentist’s Office Can Help You Keep Your Smile Healthy!
At Magnolia Family Dental, Dr. Johnson-G’Sell is ready to help patients of all ages take great care of their teeth! If you have questions about your oral health, or if you want to make sure you stay safe against threats like calculus formation, gum disease, and cavities, you can reach our St. Louis, MO dentist’s office at 314-822-4521.
