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Don't Risk Tooth Loss: 4 Things You Could Be Doing That's Jeopardizing Your Dental Health

26 July 2017 by Christy Long

When it comes to your teeth, you want to keep them for as long as possible. It's much better to have your own natural teeth, than to deal with dentures or implants. The key to avoiding premature tooth loss is proper dental hygiene. Unfortunately, some of the things you're doing right now could be setting you up for dental problems, and the loss of your teeth. Here are four things you might be doing that could be jeopardizing your teeth.

Skipping the Floss

If you don't floss your teeth at least twice a day, your teeth and gums might be at risk for serious problems. Flossing your teeth removes to food particles, and bacteria that can lead to tooth decay, and gum disease. Not only that, but it prevents plaque from building up under the gum line. To protect your teeth and gums, you should be flossing at least twice a day. You should also floss whenever you eat foods that contain small seeds, such as strawberries.

Limiting Your Water Consumption

If you're not drinking enough water throughout the day, your mouth could be suffering from its own version of dehydration. Your mouth relies on moisture to create saliva. It's the saliva in your mouth that helps keep your teeth and gums healthy by washing away bacteria and germs that can lead to dental issues. Not only that, but drinking water helps rinse away sugar left behind by the sugary foods you consume during the day. To prevent dental problems, you should sip on water throughout the day.

Leaving Your Toothbrush on the Counter

If you leave your toothbrush on the counter, you could be jeopardizing your health, and your teeth. This is particularly true if your toilet is located near the counter. When you flush the toilet, invisible particulates fly through the air and deposit a moist film on everything they come in contact with, including your toothbrush. Unfortunately, those particulates are made up of urine and fecal matter from the toilet water. When you brush your teeth with a contaminated toothbrush, you're transferring that fecal matter and urine directly into your mouth, and onto your teeth. To prevent that, you should always keep your toothbrush in the cabinet.

Ignoring the Warning Signs

If you're in the beginning stages of gum disease, your mouth will start giving you warning signs. If you ignore those warning signs, the disease could advance into a more serious form of gum disease, known as periodontitis. Unfortunately, periodontitis can lead to tooth loss, and serious medical conditions, if not treated properly. If your gums are bleeding, or you're seeing a yellowish discharge from around your gum line, you need to see your dentist immediately.

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