Blog
Most people understand the importance of visiting the dentist in Hendersonville, NC, for regular checkups. Frequent visits allow us to check the state of your smile, recommend a dental cleaning, identify any issues early on, and offer the ideal treatment to help you recover your health. However, not everyone knows that the work you put in daily for your mouth makes a difference, too.
Forgetting to floss once or twice a week won’t end the world, but building bad habits over time can have several consequences for your oral health. To help you prevent them, here are some commonly overlooked practices that harm your smile.
People often associate whiter teeth with cleanliness and good health—however, overusing whitening products can easily harm teeth over time.
Most whitening products work with abrasive substances, like peroxide oxide, which break down stains, but these substances can harm your dental enamel. The tooth's enamel serves as its protective covering. Overusing teeth-whitening products can damage this protective layer, weakening teeth, causing sensitivity, and increasing their vulnerability to decay.
Too much use of teeth-whitening products can also cause inflammation and gum irritation, leading to gum recession and other major dental issues.
Toothpicks are a common household item. Even though they might seem like a quick solution to a food fragment lodged in your mouth after eating, toothpicks can do more harm than good.
Toothpicks can easily splinter and cause abrasions in your gums, especially if they’re made of wood. Although these small wounds might not seem like much initially, they can eventually cause gum recession, irritation, and infection. Additionally, using a toothpick can erode your tooth's enamel.
Furthermore, if your toothpick breaks, it may become lodged between your teeth or gums, causing discomfort and potentially leading to more serious complications if not removed immediately.
Most patients understand the importance of brushing their teeth in the morning and at night. You can probably attest that skipping brushing even once will leave an ugly aftertaste in your mouth, cause bad breath, and lead to tooth decay over time. However, many of our patients fail to brush their teeth properly.
When brushing, paying attention and covering every surface of your mouth is important. Dedicate some time to each tooth, cleaning it on the front, top, and back. Additionally, don’t underestimate the importance of flossing!
Silver fillings are common, but that doesn’t mean they’re safe. More than 100 million Americans have restored their smiles with silver fillings, but these contain dangerous levels of mercury, which can harm your oral and overall health over time.
These fillings are one of the leading causes of mercury poisoning. Numerous issues, such as tremors, headaches, insomnia, nerve damage, kidney issues, and respiratory failure, can result from this.
According to a recent University of Washington study, a dental tooth filling's low-level release of mercury toxins into the body can even cause long-term brain damage!
Protecting your smile requires dedication and knowledge. From brushing your teeth properly every day to visiting Black Bear Dental regularly, the work you put in every day can seriously make a difference in your health.
Moreover, avoiding harmful habits is key. Certain factors, like mercury fillings, are much more damaging than others, so contact us today to determine what alternatives there are for you!
