Hygiene Habits

We have been taught that habits start at a young age, but it is never too late to break away from old habits if exercised each day. Beginning at the start of adolescence, teenagers become quite hormonal and rebellious against virtually anything, even their own health. Dentists often see the consequences of young adults neglecting the responsibility to brush their teeth at least 2-3 times per day, as required. While it is normal to witness the rebellion in teenagers to behave as expected, it is not normal for these behaviors to transfer into adulthood. 

As college students living on our own and taking on more responsibility, it is vital for us to break away from any known bad habits during this time of change. A common custom that carries onward is the lack of care for our oral health. Many people brush their teeth each day, but not many people routinely brush before going to bed and/or eating after meals. It may seem like a harmless habit, but you may begin to question your daily routine when toothaches and gingivitis begin to occur. Plaque commences to build up, acid starts to wear away at your enamel, and pretty soon you’re left with cavities and all sorts of decay. Numerous problems can result in the long run, so it is important to prevent these dental issues from occurring as soon as possible.

While one forgetful night may not cause immediate harm to your oral health, one must remember that this mentality will only lead to a bad habit of minimal brushing. If you’re someone who often finds yourself lacking in your oral care routine, set a reminder each night to spend an extra two minutes cleaning those pearly whites. You’ll thank yourself later.

Don't Fall for the Strips

Whether when scrolling through social media, driving pass billboards on your daily commute, or even when talking to family and friends, it is almost inevitable to avoid taking notice of perfect, white smiles. Acquiring straight teeth through orthodontic practices merely isn’t enough according to our beauty standards, as whitening our teeth has become a trend as well. Whitening teeth isn’t all that bad for you if done properly. However, it is important to know the truth about the “whitening” strips that one may purchase at nearly every convenience store. In fact, these strips may not be all that convenient after all.

You may have once used the beloved Crest whitening strips that are advertised all over the media and perhaps at your local dental office in efforts to achieve a bright, glowing smile. While the information on these strips claim to brighten your smile, they surprising aren’t wrong on this! What is surprising, however, is the way in which these strips work when applied.

Ever notice the gooey part of the strip that adheres to the teeth when applied? Unfortunately, this substance eats away at the outermost layer of enamel on your teeth. Removing this layer also removes the surface stains, and out reveals the next inner layer of enamel that is as white as new. By participating in the whitening strip regimen, one may proclaim that his or her teeth are in fact whitening, but there is a downside to the use of these strips. Once enamel is removed, you cannot grow that enamel back. Oddly enough, the base that forms our teeth is a sticky, yellow substance called dentin. This yellow portion of the tooth becomes exposed as the enamel on our teeth erodes. Dentin is not a substance to reckon with, as it causes severe pain and lingering bad breath.

It may be tempting to purchase cheap whitening strips from a convenience store, but it may not be so financially convenient when seeking a dentist to correct exposed dentin in the future. Dental visits can be extremely costly, especially for cosmetic procedures. Avoid the risks of enamel loss, and turn to your local dentist for a professional whitening procedure. You’ll find yourself smiling much brighter in the end.

Closing the Gap

Every day we tend to pass by many individuals, hold conversations, and smile at one another without hesitation. However, it is unfortunate to witness smiles accompanied with leftover food lodged in the many spaces between teeth. After attending a vocational school for dental assisting, I have acquired much knowledge on dentistry with special attention to everyday oral health practices. While not everyone is concerned with their oral appearance, it is important to understand the benefit of braces and orthodontic practices, as well as the ways in which oral health can improve simply by closing the gaps. 

Spacing that occurs between teeth is a common dental occurrence, and these gaps can be identified as diastemas. The force of braces to help tighten and straighten the teeth not only make for a socially acceptable alignment of the teeth, but it also benefits the health of the gingiva (commonly known as the gums). After eating, one may notice, either in their mouths or when talking with others, particles of food stuck in the crevices between teeth and along the gingiva. When food sits along the gums and against a tooth for an extended period of time, the sugar from the food and the plaque presently on the tooth begin to combine chemically. This combination creates an acid, which in turn erodes at the enamel on the tooth. As one can imagine, the loss of enamel from this erosion causes the dishonorable and most unwanted form of dental decay: a cavity. In addition, the acid from the food particles also rests on the gingiva and can eventually cause the gum line to recede over time, creating the appearance of stick-like teeth as the roots become exposed.

While cavities and receding gum lines can occur in anyone’s mouth, the occurrence of these dental issues becomes increasingly more common when orthodontic practices are not used to eliminate diastemas in the mouth. Getting braces may not be of interest to everyone, and it is perfectly fine to go without! However, it is important to learn the consequences of keeping diastemas in the mouth and the effects it can have on one’s health in the long run.