The Biggest Oral Health Mistakes You Can’t Afford To Make

By Lyndsay S @lyndsinreallife

Credit – CC0 License

If we talk about health, we have to cover all the different aspects of your health. Speaking about things like your weight and eating habits are relatively obvious. Still, we have to think about more niche areas – like your oral health! I would say this is the most neglected aspect of your health, alongside perhaps your hearing health. As a result, it’s so common to see people making the same oral health mistakes over and over again. Here are three of these mistakes that you can’t afford to keep making:

Not seeing a dentist

Regular dental checkups are essential. There are no ifs or buts about this; seeing a dentist ensures you’re on top of your oral health. They spot any issues before they develop, providing preventative treatment. If you do have problems, they can be fixed before spiralling out of control and ruining your teeth and gums. 

You may have reasons for avoiding the dentist – one of which is laziness, but another can be anxiety. Fair enough, dental anxiety is a frequent issue that can be hard to handle. But, many dentists offer solutions to help with this, like therapy dogs. Now, how do therapy dogs help with dental anxiety? It’s simple, they give you a distraction and help you focus on something else. There’s a calmness to dogs that emanates from them and seeps into you. Instead of worrying about your appointment, you’re petting a dog! Other dentists have different solutions, but the point is you shouldn’t let your anxiety get in the way of your health!

Not brushing your teeth

Please don’t forget to brush your teeth, especially before bed! It only takes around 48 hours for plaque to form in your mouth. During this time, it will solidify and become impossible to remove with a toothbrush. As a result, this hardened plaque will eat away at your teeth and cause cavities. Before you know it, you’re paying for expensive dental treatment to restore your teeth (trust me, I’m going through this right now)!

All of this can be avoided by brushing twice a day. Brush in the morning, then brush before bed. This removes bacteria and plaque from your mouth, keeping it healthy. 

Eating too much sugar

Sugar is incredibly bad for your oral health as it causes cavities. If you eat too much sugar, you’ll spend most of your life in a dental office getting treatment! It’s an easy way to ensure all your teeth fall out while you’re still young. All you have to do is cut down on sugary foods and treats – it’s really that simple! Try to limit yourself to one or two sugary snacks per day, and try to find low-sugar variants of your favorite foods. For instance, get low-sugar granola instead of the standard variety.

Don’t make these three oral health mistakes, or you will end up with terrible teeth and gums. Not only is this painful, but it will also be very costly. Plus, bad oral health usually has a negative effect on your overall health.

What do you do to have good oral health?

Thank you for reading!