Are you jeopardizing your dental health without even realizing it? You’d be surprised by the number of ways you might be hurting your oral hygiene and eroding the enamel on your teeth — all without even knowing it. The fact is, brushing and flossing isn’t enough when it comes to maintaining proper oral health. Sure, those are two good starts, but they just don’t cut it if you’ve developed other harmful habits.
Here are just a few ways you could be putting your dental health at risk:
- Drinking sports/energy drinks and soft drinks: These bubbly drinks are just filled with sugar; good for your taste buds, but bad for your teeth. Some experts even say that it’s worse than eating candy all day, since the drink washes over your teeth and the sugar can dry on, thus causing the enamel to erode.
- Brushing your teeth too much: Brushing is necessary for maintaining proper dental health, but if you’re brushing too much, it can actually hurt your teeth! It’s important to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste with gentle cleaning agents; while some people prefer to brush three times a day following each meal, most dentists say that it’s enough to brush your teeth twice a day. If you feel the need to clean your mouth in between then, try using mouthwash or floss!
- Teeth whitening products: Whiter teeth are generally associated with having healthier teeth, but it’s important not to go overboard with whitening products. Most whitening strips and toothpastes on the market today are safe to use sparingly, but if you’re using a whitening kit every single month, you’re better off going to your dentist for a professional treatment.
Remember, your dental hygiene is really important and it affects the health of the rest of your body — so you can’t be too careful when it comes to protecting those pearly whites! See this link for more references.