13 Smile Care Mistakes you Don’t Want to Make

Feeling superstitious? Friday the 13th is known for being unlucky — but at Fairfield Dental Arts, we think you should take your dental luck into your own hands. While you’re out avoiding black cats and broken mirrors, we also recommend that you don’t make these smile care mistakes today (and every day).

13 Smile Care Mistakes:

1. Not Schedule Bi-Annual Dental Cleanings – When was the last time you schedule a visit to our practice? Bi-annual dental cleanings and exams are absolutely essential to caring for your smile. They help prevent future dental problems, as well as catch existing problems early on so that we can provide you with the care that you need before you start to feel the pain.
2. Forgetting to Floss – Are you forgetting to floss? This often overlooked step in oral health care is one of the best things that you can do for your smile. In fact, in between your teeth is where most tooth decay and plaque builds!
3. Not Brushing for 2 Minutes, 2 Times a Day – How long (and how often) are you brushing your teeth for each day? You should be brushing your teeth for a full two minutes, twice a day (morning and night).
4. Not Replacing Your Toothbrush Every 3 Months – When was the last time that you replaced your toothbrush? You should be replacing your toothbrush every three months or when the bristles become frayed.
5. Brushing Too Hard – Brushing harder doesn’t mean that you are brushing better. Make sure that you are using a soft bristled brush — brushing too hard can lead to gum damage.
6. Not Drinking Enough Water – Staying hydrated is good for your oral health and your overall health. Make sure that you’re drinking plenty of water even on cool fall and winter days. This will help wash away bacteria that may otherwise eat away at your tooth enamel.
7. Thinking You’re Too Old For Braces – Braces aren’t just for children. If you are looking to improve your smile alignment, you can still consider braces at an older age. Aligned teeth are more than a cosmetic adjustment, they can improve your oral health, too!
8. Avoiding Taking X-rays – X-rays are crucial to understanding what is going on in your mouth. They can help you identify wisdom teeth that are growing in crooked, identify cavities, and more. Make sure that you are getting x-rays when needed.
9. Storing Your Wet Toothbrush in a Travel Case – Planning a vacation? Make sure that you store your toothbrush in a dry place! Bacteria thrives in wet environments, so you don’t want to store yours in a travel case.
10. Forgetting to Wear Your Retainer – It may be years since you last had braces, but that doesn’t mean that you should forget to wear your retainer. You should always wear your retainer for as long as is recommended by your orthodontist — which may mean forever.
11. Brushing After Drinking Orange Juice – Orange juice is full of healthy vitamins — but when it comes to caring for your teeth, you want to avoid drinking this acidic juice before brushing your teeth. The acids weaken your enamel and brushing right after can cause it to wear away.
12. Drinking Soda – You’ve probably heard it before, but we’re telling you again — drinking sugary drinks like soda will always be bad for your teeth. While it’s ok to indulge every once in awhile, try to make your main drink of choice something healthier like water.
13. Don’t Ignore Sore Teeth – There are many reasons why you might be feeling discomfort, but it’s never something that you should ignore. If you are feeling any kind of pain, it’s important to schedule a dental visit so that we can help you feel better.

If you do have any questions about how to care for your teeth or you are experiencing any tooth sensitivity, give our office a call to schedule your visit. We are here to keep your teeth beautiful and healthy year-round.