Keeping your teeth strong takes diligence and care. Our Toluca Lake dentists are here to help you avoid dental damage as much as possible. Today we are going to talking about the steps that you can take protect your dental enamel, and accordingly your smile as a whole.
One of the key threats to your smile is oral bacteria. In order to protect your smile, you have to minimize bacteria on your teeth and gums as much as possible. To do this:
· Floss your teeth at least once a day
· Brush your teeth at least twice a day (or as often as your dentist recommends)
· Limit sugars and carbohydrates in your diet (bacteria love to feed on these substances)
· Drink plenty of water so that your body produces adequate saliva—saliva neutralizes harmful bacteria
There are also things that you should do to protect the structure of your smile.
First of all, make sure to wear the appropriate protective mouth guard when engaging in contact sports and activities. This is a simple step that you can take to avoid unnecessary dental damage.
Additionally, it is very important to treat a condition called bruxism as soon as it pops up. If you have bruxism, you tend to grind and clench your teeth habitually. Bruxism-related grinding and clenching often happens at night, while you are asleep. So if your partner mentions the he or she notices your grinding your teeth, or if you wake up with a sore jaw on a regular basis, talk to you dentist about bruxism. If left untreated, bruxism will lead to dental cracks and chips.
When you come in for a consultation with our dental team, we can give you personalized tips regarding how to care for your smile. Our Toluca Lake dentists are here for you!