3 Issues That Can Make Good Oral Hygiene Harder To Maintain

How successful have you been at maintaining good oral hygiene? If you practice the right habits no a daily basis, you can stop tartar from forming on your teeth, keep your risk for tooth decay low, and avoid problems with gingivitis. Your Ankeny, IA dentist can provide important help for you in your efforts to maintain a clean and healthy smile. At every routine dental exam, you receive a thorough teeth cleaning and an evaluation to see if there are any problems that should be addressed. If you fall out of the habit of scheduling regular care, it can become difficult to maintain a healthy smile. Make sure you consistently see your dentist for preventive treatments, and take care to maintain your oral health on a daily basis by avoiding common mistakes that people make regarding smile care.

1. A Lack Of Regular Dental Cleanings And Exams

When you stop arranging routine dental care, you create a serious obstacle between yourself and a healthy smile. Your dentist is able to identify issues before they grow serious – for example, a problem with tooth decay can be identified before your tooth begins to ache, and it can be treated with a discreet dental filling. You can also receive early intervention for gingivitis, or for problems with teeth grinding. Another concern is that without your regular teeth cleanings, you lose the ability to keep tartar off your teeth. When tartar buildup is not removed, you are more likely to develop visible deposits that hurt your smile, and you can have a more difficult time preventing dental problems.

2. Choosing Soft Drinks Over Water

If you regularly choose to drink soft drinks at meals and snacks instead of water, you expose yourself to more sugar throughout the day, you interfere with your ability to stay hydrated, and you can have more issues with teeth stains. Even if you make the move to diet drinks to avoid sugar, the acidity of the beverages you drink can weaken your enamel. Water is good for your overall health, it can make washing away food debris easier, and it encourages healthy saliva production, something that helps you naturally maintain a healthy smile.

3. Not Flossing On A Regular Basis

Flossing is important for your oral health, important enough to be included in your daily hygiene routine. If you are not flossing each day, you leave yourself open to the accumulation of plaque and food particles between teeth. A good flossing habit will protect you from trouble with tooth decay and gum disease.

Your Ankeny, IA Dentist Can Help You Maintain Good Oral Health

Your Ankeny, IA dentist’s office is ready to help you stay on top of your oral health and prevent potentially serious problems for your smile and well-being. To find out more, contact Dental Impressions at (515) 965-0230 to schedule a visit.