If you brush your teeth, floss and use mouth wash on a regular basis then you are on the right track to maintaining a healthy smile. While you may be practicing great oral hygiene, you could be doing a couple things that negatively impact your smile.

Toothbrush with Hard Bristles

Your gums can actually recede if you use a brush that is too hard. In fact, you can also have abrasion damage to the tooth root surface. Use a soft-bristled brush or a multi-tufted brush.

Brushing Aggressively

Although you may have the correct toothbrush, brushing your teeth too aggressively can irritate the gums. You can easily break up plaque on the teeth with some gentle whisking! Also, avoid brushing too often as brushing twice a day is sufficient.

Biting Your Nails

Nail biting is one of the most common habits and this is typically done when people feel nervous or anxious. Try to avoid biting your nails as this can wear down teeth, leading to fractures and chips.

Grinding and Clenching

When patients clench their jaws or grind their teeth, they are using an intense force which causes looseness, jaw pain and fractured teeth. A night guard is the best way to prevent grinding in your sleep.

Physical Activity without a Mouth Guard

Whether you’re playing football, soccer, baseball or any other sport, it’s crucial to wear your mouth guard to reduce the risk of broken or loose teeth.

Contact the dentists at Lindner Dental to schedule a routine cleaning! If you forgot to wear your mouth guard and fractured your teeth, we provide dental services for sports related injuries.