Aside from your regular checkups, it's natural to want to limit the number of visits you make to your dentist. One of the easiest ways to do so is to address certain lifestyle habits. Here are a few that can impact your oral health.
Hydrating Regularly
Do you feel as though you drink enough water? When you don't hydrate regularly, your saliva production suffers. Having enough saliva in your mouth is crucial if you're going to keep bad bacteria at bay. Saliva contains lysozyme, which is an enzyme that attacks the cell walls of the bacteria that cause gum disease and tooth decay. When you don't have enough of it in your mouth, you're creating the right conditions for bacteria to thrive. Try to assess whether you often feel thirsty or whether your pee looks darker than it should. Focus on drinking more water to reduce the presence of bad bacteria in your mouth and keep your gums healthy.
Stress Reduction
It isn't always possible to avoid stress entirely. However, if you're doing nothing to mitigate the stressors in your life then your teeth could suffer. Some people find that stress results in teeth grinding. Grinding can wear down your teeth and may sometimes result in breakages or conditions such as TMJ. Your dentist should notify you of the signs of teeth grinding if they spot them at your next visit. To combat this, try stress reduction techniques such as exercising more, yoga and meditation. You may also want to ask about dental guards that you can wear at night.
Using Tools
It's easy to take your teeth for granted and sometimes that can result in you using them as tools for everyday tasks. For example, biting into plastic to tear it, opening bottles and holding onto objects when your hands are full. While these small actions may seem harmless on an occasional basis, repeating them can result in unexpected breakages. Depending on where those breakages occur, the effects can range from unsightly chips to the tooth itself dying. To prevent this from becoming an issue, make sure you know how to access the right tools for the task you're performing. The less you use your teeth to replace inanimate objects, the easier it is for you to keep them safe from harm.
At your next dental appointment, discuss your lifestyle habits with your dentist. They should be able to direct you towards healthier choices that reduce the risk of harm.
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