Between building your career, visiting family, maintaining a social life, and fitting some relaxation time somewhere in between, tooth safety isn’t much of a thought in our everyday lives. However, even the simplest of activities can result in dark stains, noticeable chips, and other dental damage. Practice proper tooth safety this summer by avoiding these common causes.
4 Everyday Occurrences That Put Your Teeth at Risk
The two main sources of stained and chipped teeth are extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Extrinsic factors are those that affect the outer layer of the enamel, causing discoloration and chipping. Intrinsic factors, on the other hand, are related to the structure of the tooth itself. Each of these can put your teeth at high-risk for damage through these four everyday habits:
- Dark-colored food and drink – This includes common drinks like coffee, soda, and wine. However, it also includes foods that are deep in color, like blackberries and raspberries. A rule of thumb to go by is if it can stain your sheets, then it can stain your teeth.
- Sugar consumption – While sugar itself may not stain teeth, the bacteria in your mouth that eats sugar also eats the enamel. The outer layer of enamel is what gives your teeth the pearly, white appearance. Once that enamel has deteriorated, the yellow layer underneath is exposed. Some common foods that can cause this to occur are sugary breakfast cereals, jams, and chocolate.
- Hard foods – Your teeth are designed to withstand a certain amount of impact to properly chew your food and get the digestive process started. However, chipped teeth can occur frequently from excessive impact from hard foods, like candy and ice.
- Trauma – Even the most graceful person is prone to have a handful of mishaps happen throughout their life. Tripping over something, getting into an accident, or having someone accidentally elbow you can occur suddenly and cause damage to your teeth.
How Do I Avoid Tooth Stains & Chips?
The best protection that you have is to use prevention tactics. In addition to avoiding the common causes when possible, consistently practicing a proper oral hygiene routine is crucial. Here are a few oral hygiene best practices to follow:
- Brush at least twice a day for two minutes
- Floss daily
- Where a mouthguard when playing sports
- Maintain a low-sugar diet
- Visit your dentist for a check-up and deep cleaning twice a year
If you have recently chipped a tooth, then you should schedule emergency dental care to stop the area from getting infected and to restore your smile.
Following these tooth safety best practices will ensure that your summer memories with friends and loved ones don’t include an emergency trip to the dentist. Keep these common causes and tips for a proper oral hygiene routine in mind so that you can enjoy your smile without worry!
About Bridlewood Dental
For the past 30 years, Bridlewood Dental has created a name for themselves through their exemplary service, friendly approach, and stress-free experience. Dr. Rodger Song is known as a trusted Flower Mound Dentist because of his ability to listen to your concerns and address any dental issues in a comfortable environment. If stained teeth or a cracked tooth has impacted your self-confidence, don’t hesitate to contact Bridlewood Dental through their website or by phone at 972-957-3707.