June 4, 2021

Want To Keep Your Enamel Healthy? Avoid Doing These 11 Things

Tooth enamel is the hardest part of the human body, but that doesn’t mean teeth are indestructable. To keep them healthy and problem-free, the team at Smileology in Niceville and Miramar Beach recommends (strongly!) you avoid the following.

1. Chewing on hard foods

We’re looking at you unpopped popcorn kernels and hard candy.

2. Chewing on hard things

This includes fingernails, pencils, pen caps, and ice.

3. Grinding your teeth

If you grind your teeth, an oral appliance can help.

4. Eating too much sticky food

Gummy candy, dried fruit, and even protein bars can break teeth.

5. Drinking anything besides water frequently

If your teeth are bathed in soda (sugared or diet), juice, coffee, or sports drinks consistently, you are asking for dental issues.

6. Playing sports without a mouthguard

Sports pose a major risk of tooth damage. Most children are required to wear a protective mouthguard on the playing field. But fewer adults wear mouthguards for recreational activities like mountain biking and skiing. The stock mouth protectors are pre-formed and ready to wear. Unfortunately, they rarely fit well. Custom-fitted mouthguards are more comfortable than the cheap boil-and-bite type.

7. Using a hard-bristled toothbrush

A hard-bristled tooth brush can weaken teeth and cause gums to pull away. Scrub away food bits and plaque with a soft (or extra-soft) toothbrush.

8. Ignoring dry mouth

Saliva is important. It helps to rinse food particles from your mouth as well as neutralize the acids that cause plaque. It also helps clean the teeth of leftover food bits, helping to prevent plaque buildup. Constant dry mouth, or xerostomia, can lead to tooth decay. Talk to us if you have dry mouth often.

9. Using teeth as tools

Take a minute to find a pair of scissors before you tear open a package of lunch meat or pry the lid of a medicine bottle. Use a nutcracker if you are eating unshelled nuts. A quality dental crown can cost over eight hundred dollars.

10. Ignoring bad breath

Bad breath is often linked to bacteria build-up in the mouth. It might be a symptom of accelerating tooth decay. Discuss it with us. (Don’t be embarrassed. We treat bad breath all the time.)

11. Ignoring jaw pain

If you suffer from jaw pain or notice a clicking sound, be sure to let us know right away! These symptoms can be signs of a serious condition called temporomandibular disorder (TMD).

If you’ve already damaged a tooth, we can repair it at Smileology in Niceville and Miramar Beach. We offer complete restorative dentistry services, and have helped patients throughout Destin and Florala AL. We also offer general and family dentistry. Call to schedule an appointment with us today!