Agoura Hills, CA (PRWEB) August 11, 2017 -- Most people know the basics when it comes to maintaining a healthy smile. However, some everyday actions are surprisingly damaging toward your teeth. Some of these habits may seem minuscule, but they can have a negative impact on your dental health, and therefore, your overall health. Agoura Hills dentist, Dr. Philip Shindler, explains 10 ways people may be damaging their teeth without even realizing.
1. Drinking diet sodas
Many people switch to diet soda to avoid sugar, but sugar is not the only problematic ingredient when it comes to your teeth. All soda contains acid, which can erode enamel regardless of whether it is diet or regular.
2. Drinking fruit juice
Juice is not a healthy alternative to soda. Juice is sugary and acidic, and it can destroy your teeth. When craving something sweet and fruity, eat a piece of actual fruit instead.
3. Eating starchy carbohydrates
Bread, bagels, granola bars and muffins are easy foods for grab-and-go meals, but they have a sticky texture that keeps them attached to teeth all day. The starches they contain are also known to feed oral bacteria.
4. Sucking on sour candies
Sugar found in candy makes it a bad idea for your teeth. Even worse is sour candy, as it contains a potent acidic ingredient which doubles the danger. Skip the candy and enjoy sugar-free gum instead.
5. Getting an oral piercing
Tongue, lip and cheek piercings may look good, but they can chip teeth and irritate gums.
6. Whitening at home
Home whitening treatments can be harsh on teeth, especially if users do not follow instructions properly. This practice can lead to gum irritation and enamel damage. It can be especially bad for those with sensitive teeth.
7. Assuming white teeth are healthy teeth
Dental problems are not always visible, which means regular checkups are absolutely essential to protect your teeth.
8. Throwing up
Morning sickness, hangovers, acid reflux and other conditions that lead to frequent vomiting bathe teeth in stomach acid, which will ultimately erode them over time.
9. Using too much fluoride
Fluoride is good for teeth in small doses. It helps harden the enamel and protects against bacterial assaults. However, if children ingest too much fluoride, they can develop fluorosis, a condition in which their teeth develop a mottled appearance. Use only the recommended amount of fluoride.
10. Brushing teeth improperly
Brushing too hard, too long or with a brush that is too hard can damage the enamel on teeth and irritate gum tissue. Use a soft-bristled brush for two minutes twice a day.
About Agoura Hills Dentist, Dr. Shindler
Dr. Shindler offers comprehensive dental care, including preventive dental care and counseling to help patients improve their smiles. Among the available treatments are dental implant restorations, teeth whitening, CariFree, Kors Whitening, porcelain dental veneers and tooth-colored fillings.
Dr. Shindler has been practicing in the Agoura Hills area since 1987. He is a graduate of WITS University in South Africa and completed his postgraduate work at UCLA. Today, he is a member of the California Dental Association and the American Dental Association, and he volunteers at the Wildlife Way Station.
Kevin Neman, Dentist, http://www.robertmondavidds.com/, +1 (818) 205-9300, [email protected]
SOURCE Dentist
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