If your oral care routine is stable, and you regularly see your dentist for dental exams, do you have to worry about unexpected problems with cavities or gum disease? It might be nice to think that you have fully problem-proofed your smile, but you should be aware that some surprising issues can influence your risk for issues. At our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office, we want our patients to be fully aware of how they can protect themselves against oral health problems. When you recognize the different factors that can influence your likelihood of experiencing tooth decay or gum disease, you can maintain a stronger, more effective preventive care routine!
1. Dehydration Can Affect Your Natural Resistance To Cavities
When you are poorly hydrated, you can be prone to periods of dry mouth. Dry mouth makes it difficult for you to naturally rinse away food debris with saliva. In addition to helping you clean your teeth, saliva also helps to neutralize certain bacteria. To protect yourself against this issue, be sure to drink water throughout the day, and consider replacing flavored beverages with it during meals.
2. Poorly Managed Stress Can Be A Problem For Your Oral Health
Even the calmest person can go through periods of stress form time to time. When you have a bout of stress in your life, you may unconsciously start to pick up poorer eating habits, and you may not pay as much attention to your oral hygiene as you think you do. What this means is that you can allow plaque and tartar to build up at the same time you are exposing your smile to more harmful sugars. Teeth grinding is another potential consequence of stress, one that can lead to dental damages and pain. If teeth grinding becomes a recurring issue, it may take a custom appliance from your dentist to protect your teeth.
3. A Change In Your Diet May Change Your Cavity Risk
How consistent is your current diet? Hopefully, you are making smart choices each day to limit your exposure to sugary, starch-heavy foods. This ensures that oral bacteria have less to consume, which means they are doing less harm to your enamel. Your diet choices can also be important for your smile because you can take care to avoid products that stain teeth, leaving you with unattractive dental discoloration.
Dental Impressions In Ankney, IA Provides Dental Health Care For Families
At Dental Impression in Ankeny, IA, we are proud to provide a range of beneficial oral health services to people in and around the community. For kids and adults alike, we provide encouragement and valuable preventive dental services – when necessary, we can also do work to restore your oral health. If you would like to learn more, you can call our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office at (515) 965-0230.
