They do n’t do fossil oil draw in place of recommended daily habit .
Dental hygienists know a thing or two about keeping teeth healthy. After all, they spend most of their days looking into people’s mouths and seeing the damage that certain habits can do.
Indeed , many common demeanor can have or worsen dental issues like cavities and gum disease and generally contradict the benefits of unspoiled oral hygienics . And the consequences of overlooking our oral health go beyond just our mouths .
“ Your oral health is connected to everything from heart disease to diabetes , maternity complications and cognitive health , ” registered dental hygienistIman Zayedtold HuffPost . “ Taking forethought of your smiling is n’t just cosmetic ― it ’s a crucial investment in your overall well - being . ”
Below , Zayed and other dental hygienists share the tooth - damaging habits and behaviour that they advise against and would never , ever do themselves .
They don’t brush their teeth immediately after eating or drinking.
“ I never sweep my teeth decent after corrode or drinking because I would be brush in an acidic surroundings , which can damage my teeth , ” saidKari Carter - Cherelus , a register dental hygienist . “ I look thirty minutes when the pH in my mouth has returned to an alkaline province . ”
For the same reason , Brittany Glauznever copse straightaway after breakfast and or else opts to do it beforehand .
“ Brushing before rust breakfast helps protect your teeth from acid attacks and plaque buildup , ” say Glauz , a registered dental hygienist in alternative practice . “ Brushing as presently as you wake up removes this harmful bacterium that has built up overnight . If you sweep after breakfast , peculiarly after consuming acidic nutrient like fruit , juice or coffee , you risk brush the acidic pH all over , which can top to erosion over clock time . ”
She recommended rinsing your mouth with urine or chewing xylitol gumwood after your meal if you want a fresher spirit .
“ I do n’t clash at once after drinking something acidic , like lemon water or soda , ” said registered dental hygienist and coachAmber Auger . “ I hold back at least 30 minute so my enamel has clock time to reharden before sweep . Brushing too soon can really don down the tooth enamel when it ’s at its weakest . ”
They don’t chew ice.
“ I would never jaw on ice , ” saidAllison Cuevas , founder of The Bright Bite Dental Hygiene Services . “ It might seem harmless , but manducate ice can chip or crock up enamel , leading to painful fractures or sensitivity over time . ”
It ’s not just the firmness of the ice that ’s an number ― there ’s also the moth-eaten temperature to consider . If you have filling , a sudden temperature change can cause them to contract or elaborate at different rate than the tooth , which may weaken the bond .
They don’t use a toothbrush with hard bristles.
“ I never apply hard bristle toothbrushes , ” Glauz said . “ Over meter , brushing too sharply with stiff bristles can damage your gum and enamel . I always recommend using a voiced or extra - soft toothbrush and focusing on gentle , effective technique . It ’s more about the technique not the clumsiness of bristle . ”
Rather than buying to a fault abrasive toothbrushes , focus on perfecting your orbitual apparent motion and slant as you sweep .
They don’t use too much pressure when brushing.
“ I deflect brush too sharply , ” pronounce file dental hygienistTajah Ferjuste . “ A lot of people take on the harder they brush , the cleaner their teeth will be , but it does more trauma than good . It wears away enamel and causes gum recession , which can lead to predisposition . ”
It ’s hard to desexualize these issues once they start , so take a more preventative approach .
“ When it come to brushing , more pressure is n’t better , ” say Emily R. , a dental hygienist atBeverly Hills Dental Arts . “ In fact , brushing too hard can lead to gum recession and give away the dentin ― the yellowish layer beneath your enamel — making teeth seem discolored and increase sensitiveness . utilize easy , circular motions when clean your tooth . Remember : You only get one grownup band . Take charge of them . ”
They don’t use their teeth as tools.
“ I never , ever use my dentition as tools , ” Auger said . “ I ’m talking about rip open computer software , holding bobby pins , or trying to open up a feeding bottle detonating gadget with them . It ’s an gentle direction to chip or break up a tooth , and once that happens , it ’s unremarkably a pricy fix . ”
Protecting your teeth and mucilage belong beyond good unwritten hygiene with casual flossing and brushing . You want to avoid pose unneeded stress on them .
“ Teeth are not design for ripping off clothing tag and crack up promotional material , ” Emily R. said . “ Using them this way can lead to micro - scissure , french-fried potatoes , gum wound , or even strain the temporomandibular joint . It can also damage any live dental workplace like filling , veneers , or crowns . Your teeth are meant for chewing , verbalize , and smile ― not replacing scissors or bottleful opener . cover them consequently . ”
Another problematic use for tooth is bite your nails .
“ I never bite my nail , ” Glauz said . “ Nail biting can cause odd vesture , and introduce bacterium into the mouth , increase the risk of infection . Avoiding these habit helps protect both the health and longevity of your grinning . ”
They don’t engage in prolonged consumption of acidic foods and drinks.
“ I avoid extend pulmonary tuberculosis of acidulous food and drinks , such as lactate on lemons or drink soda , ” saidMartelle Coke , a registered dental hygienist and founder of theAll Smiles Mattercampaign . “ exuberant exposure to acids can stimulate enamel erosion , tooth decomposition , and increased sensitivity . ”
It ’s OK to treat yourself sometimes with soda or succus , but you should avoid sipping on these sugary drinks throughout the day .
“ Frequency is more negative than amount when it comes to sugar and acid vulnerability , ” state registered dental hygienistWhitney DiFoggio . “ Sipping throughout the day always bathes your teeth in acid and sugar , give your spittle no chance to neutralize and remineralize . tope it , be done , then rinse with urine or chew xylitol gum to help oneself rebalance your mouth . ”
They don’t go to unlicensed providers for dental work.
“ As a dental hygienist , I would never go to an unaccredited individual for any dental body of work , ” Carter - Cherelus say . “ Many are go bad to these individuals and feature composite veneers done from so - called facing technical school ― and they may end up turn a loss their teeth or cause more damage because often cavities and gum disease are being cover up and not treat . ”
She stressed the importance of regularly going to a dental place that performs important assessments like a complete periodontic rating , pedigree pressure test and oral Cancer the Crab exam . You should also stick to a accredited medical professional person for thing like tooth gem .
“ I love bling ! ” Carter - Cherelus said . “ However as a dental hygienist if I want tooth gem on my teeth , I would have it done at a dental berth so that I know they are using product that are safe to employ in my mouth and that it will be done in a safe environs . ”
They don’t engage in risky dental trends from TikTok.
“ I steer clear of any dental TikTok trends , ” Zayed said . “ Whether it ’s filing teeth with nail files , DIY white with questionable ingredients or company prank like opening bottle with your teeth ― these are recipe for catastrophe ! They can permanently damage your enamel , fracture teeth and pass to serious complications requiring root word canals , extractions , or expensive implants . ”
She emphasise that temporary societal culture medium punch is not worth the potential lifetime of dental publication .
Carter - Cherelus similarly advised against unsafe trends , particularly ones that need using everyday adhesives like nail mucilage to attach fang and other thing to your tooth .
“ As a dental hygienist I would never expend top-notch glue , gorilla glue , or any other eccentric of chemical in my back talk that is not intended to go in my sass , ” she state . “ Certain chemical substance are toxic and can either harm your dentition or your body or both . ”
They don’t opt for unnecessary cosmetic procedures.
These days , there ’s more cognizance around the different kinds of cosmetic procedures people undergo , include 1 related to the teeth .
“ I void unnecessary cosmetic procedure when more conservative options be , ” Zayed said . “ While veneers can be transformative for the right campaigner , I personally would run down options like professional whitening and orthodontic treatments like Invisalign before considering more trespassing procedures that for good spay natural tooth social organisation . ”
Registered dental hygienistSarah Dane Jimenezechoed that sentiment .
“ I ’ve ascertain so many new influencers on Instagram and TikTok ruin their dead healthy tooth by getting full coverage crowns and facing just because they want to look a certain fashion , ” she tell . “ While everyone is title to their own preferences , it ’s easy to be influenced by social medium . If someone is really go down on getting cosmetic restorations done , I suggest doing proper research and translate how to maintain it to avoid any issue . ”
They don’t skip regular cleanings and daily dental hygiene routine.
“ I always get cleanup every three month , ” Cuevas said . “ even cleanings reduce the risk of gum disease , which has been tie to heart disease and other systemic health issues . ”
Unsurprisingly , dental expert also say skipping your daily brush and flossing subroutine is a no - no .
“ Brushing twice a solar day and floss once a day may not be trendy , but it ’s the exclusive most knock-down affair you’re able to do for your dental health , ” DiFoggio said . “ Do n’t underestimate the power of subprogram . get over those two habit consistently can completely transform your dental health . Forget gimmicks and hacks ― consistence is the real secret . ”
Although it may feel harmless to skip here and there , she emphasized that just one night without brushing and flossing can lead to big consequences that tot up up promptly .
“ For some people , brass can start to season into tartar in as small as 24 hours ― and once that pass off , it can no longer be removed with a toothbrush or floss , ” DiFoggio explained . “ You ’ll need a professional cleaning to get rid of it . ”
think the grandness of consistency put on to both brushingandflossing .
“ Brushing alone does n’t reach between the teeth , where solid food and plaque tend to get trammel , ” Ferjuste noted . “ floss daily is substantive for preventing cavum and gum disease . ”
DiFoggio said she never opts for oil force ― a drill that involves swishing edible oil around in the sassing ― in blank space of brushing and flossing .
“ I ’m not against oil color pulling wholly , ” she said . “ It can be a relaxing ritual for some , but it ’s not a replacement for brushing and flossing . There ’s bound scientific evidence supporting its benefit , and in my opinion , it ’s not worth the clock time or crusade . unwritten hygiene bit should be back by warm research , and oil deplume just is n’t there . It ’s okay as an addition , but never as a substitute . ”
They don’t use alternative toothpastes if the risks fail to outweigh the rewards.
“ You ’ll never catch me using oxford gray toothpaste , ” DiFoggio said . “ While it might make your tooth look white-hot at first , oxford gray is abrasive and can jade down your tooth enamel over clock time ― revealing the yellow dentine underneath . It ’s a fast track to sensitivity and discoloration . ”
She added that even non - charcoal lightening toothpastes can cause sensitivity if overused , so she uses them sparingly and always prioritise protecting enamel . DiFoggio is also not a proponent of fluoride - free toothpaste .
“ With so many myths floating around online , I see a raft of patients switching to fluoride - free toothpaste , ” she tell . “ But here ’s the truth : Fluoride is dependable and in force , and helps remineralize enamel where former cavities are hear to form ― specially in acidic term where damage happens . ”
A strong option to fluoride , nano - hydroxyapatite , does n’t even perform as well against acid .
“ Plus , fluoride - free toothpastes are n’t regulated the same path , so you do n’t always live what you ’re getting , ” DiFoggio said . “ Overall , not everyone needs fluoride , but if you ’re bodily cavity - prostrate , why take that chance?”This clause primitively appeared onHuffPost .
