Dental hygienists know a factor or two about retaining enamel wholesome. In any case, they spend most of their days trying into individuals’s mouths and seeing the harm that sure habits can do.
Certainly, many widespread behaviors may cause or worsen dental points like cavities and gum illness and customarily negate the advantages of fine oral hygiene. And the implications of overlooking our oral well being transcend simply our mouths.
“Your oral health is connected to everything from heart disease to diabetes, pregnancy complications and cognitive health,” registered dental hygienist Iman Zayed informed HuffPost. “Taking care of your smile isn’t just cosmetic ― it’s a crucial investment in your overall well-being.”
Under, Zayed and different dental hygienists share the tooth-damaging habits and behaviors that they advise in opposition to and would by no means, ever do themselves.
They don’t brush their enamel instantly after consuming or consuming.
“I never brush my teeth right after eating or drinking because I would be brushing in an acidic environment, which can damage my teeth,” stated Kari Carter-Cherelus, a registered dental hygienist. “I wait thirty minutes when the pH in my mouth has returned to an alkaline state.”
For a similar cause, Brittany Glauz by no means brushes instantly after breakfast and as a substitute opts to do it beforehand.
“Brushing before eating breakfast helps protect your teeth from acid attacks and plaque buildup,” stated Glauz, a registered dental hygienist in different follow. “Brushing as soon as you wake up removes this harmful bacteria that has built up overnight. If you brush after breakfast, especially after consuming acidic foods like fruit, juice or coffee, you risk brushing the acidic pH all over, which can lead to erosion over time.”
She advisable rinsing your mouth with water or chewing xylitol gum after your meal if you would like a brisker really feel.
“I don’t brush immediately after drinking something acidic, like lemon water or soda,” stated registered dental hygienist and coach Amber Auger. “I wait at least 30 minutes so my enamel has time to reharden before brushing. Brushing too soon can actually wear down the enamel when it’s at its weakest.”
They don’t chew ice.
“I would never chew on ice,” stated Allison Cuevas, founding father of The Vivid Chew Dental Hygiene Companies. “It might seem harmless, but chewing ice can chip or crack enamel, leading to painful fractures or sensitivity over time.”
It’s not simply the firmness of the ice that’s a problem ― there’s additionally the chilly temperature to contemplate. In case you have fillings, a sudden temperature change may cause them to contract or increase at completely different charges than the tooth, which can weaken the bonds.
They don’t use a toothbrush with exhausting bristles.
“I never use hard bristle toothbrushes,” Glauz stated. “Over time, brushing too aggressively with stiff bristles can damage your gums and enamel. I always recommend using a soft or extra-soft toothbrush and focusing on gentle, effective technique. It’s more about the technique not the stiffness of bristles.”
Reasonably than shopping for overly abrasive toothbrushes, concentrate on perfecting your round motions and angle as you sweep.
They don’t use an excessive amount of stress when brushing.
“I avoid brushing too aggressively,” stated registered dental hygienist Tajah Ferjuste. “A lot of people assume the harder they brush, the cleaner their teeth will be, but it does more harm than good. It wears away enamel and causes gum recession, which can lead to sensitivity.”
It’s exhausting to repair these points as soon as they begin, so take a extra preventative method.
“When it comes to brushing, more pressure isn’t better,” stated Emily R., a dental hygienist at Beverly Hills Dental Arts. “In fact, brushing too hard can lead to gum recession and expose the dentin ― the yellowish layer beneath your enamel—making teeth appear discolored and increasing sensitivity. Use gentle, circular motions when cleaning your teeth. Remember: You only get one adult set. Take care of them.”
They don’t use their enamel as instruments.
“I never, ever use my teeth as tools,” Auger stated. “I’m talking about ripping open packages, holding bobby pins, or trying to open a bottle cap with them. It’s an easy way to chip or crack a tooth, and once that happens, it’s usually a pricey fix.”
Defending your enamel and gums goes past good oral hygiene with day by day flossing and brushing. You wish to keep away from placing pointless stress on them.
“Teeth are not designed for ripping off clothing tags and cracking up packaging,” Emily R. stated. “Using them this way can lead to micro-cracks, chips, gum injuries, or even strain the temporomandibular joint. It can also damage any existing dental work like fillings, veneers, or crowns. Your teeth are meant for chewing, speaking, and smiling ― not replacing scissors or bottle openers. Treat them accordingly.”
One other problematic use for enamel is biting your nails.
“I never bite my nails,” Glauz stated. “Nail biting can cause uneven wear, and introduce bacteria into the mouth, increasing the risk of infection. Avoiding these habits helps protect both the health and longevity of your smile.”
They don’t interact in extended consumption of acidic meals and drinks.
“I avoid prolonged consumption of acidic foods and drinks, such as sucking on lemons or drinking soda,” stated Martelle Coke, a registered dental hygienist and founding father of the All Smiles Matter marketing campaign. “Excessive exposure to acids can cause enamel erosion, tooth decay, and increased sensitivity.”
It’s OK to deal with your self generally with soda or juice, however you must keep away from sipping on these sugary drinks all through the day.
“Frequency is more damaging than quantity when it comes to sugar and acid exposure,” stated registered dental hygienist Whitney DiFoggio. “Sipping throughout the day constantly bathes your teeth in acid and sugar, giving your saliva no chance to neutralize and remineralize. Drink it, be done, then rinse with water or chew xylitol gum to help rebalance your mouth.”
They don’t go to unlicensed suppliers for dental work.
“As a dental hygienist, I would never go to an unlicensed individual for any dental work,” Carter-Cherelus stated. “Many are going to these individuals and having composite veneers done from so-called veneer techs ― and they may end up losing their teeth or causing more damage because often cavities and gum disease are being covered up and not treated.”
She careworn the significance of commonly going to a dental workplace that performs necessary assessments like a whole periodontal analysis, blood stress check and oral most cancers examination. You also needs to keep on with a licensed medical skilled for issues like tooth gems.
“I love bling!” Carter-Cherelus stated. “However as a dental hygienist if I want tooth gems on my teeth, I would have it done at a dental office so that I know they are using products that are safe to use in my mouth and that it will be done in a safe environment.”
They don’t interact in dangerous dental traits from TikTok.
“I steer clear of any dental TikTok trends,” Zayed stated. “Whether it’s filing teeth with nail files, DIY whitening with questionable ingredients or party tricks like opening bottles with your teeth ― these are recipes for disaster! They can permanently damage your enamel, fracture teeth and lead to serious complications requiring root canals, extractions, or expensive implants.”
She emphasised that short-term social media clout shouldn’t be well worth the potential lifetime of dental points.
Carter-Cherelus equally suggested in opposition to unsafe traits, significantly ones that contain utilizing on a regular basis adhesives like nail glue to connect fangs and different issues to your enamel.
“As a dental hygienist I would never use super glue, gorilla glue, or any other type of chemical in my mouth that is not intended to go in my mouth,” she stated. “Certain chemicals are toxic and can either harm your teeth or your body or both.”
They don’t go for pointless beauty procedures.
Today, there’s extra consciousness across the completely different sorts of beauty procedures individuals bear, together with ones associated to the enamel.
“I avoid unnecessary cosmetic procedures when more conservative options exist,” Zayed stated. “While veneers can be transformative for the right candidate, I personally would exhaust options like professional whitening and orthodontic treatments like Invisalign before considering more invasive procedures that permanently alter natural tooth structure.”
Registered dental hygienist Sarah Dane Jimenez echoed that sentiment.
“I’ve seen so many young influencers on Instagram and TikTok ruin their perfectly healthy teeth by getting full coverage crowns and veneers just because they want to look a certain way,” she stated. “While everyone is entitled to their own preferences, it’s easy to be influenced by social media. If someone is really set on getting cosmetic restorations done, I suggest doing proper research and understanding how to maintain it to avoid any issues.”
They don’t skip common cleanings and day by day dental hygiene routine.
“I always get cleanings every three months,” Cuevas stated. “Regular cleanings reduce the risk of gum disease, which has been linked to heart disease and other systemic health issues.”
Unsurprisingly, dental specialists additionally say skipping your day by day brushing and flossing routine is a no-no.
“Brushing twice a day and flossing once a day may not be trendy, but it’s the single most powerful thing you can do for your dental health,” DiFoggio stated. “Don’t underestimate the power of routine. Mastering those two habits consistently can completely transform your dental health. Forget gimmicks and hacks ― consistency is the real secret.”
Though it might really feel innocent to skip right here and there, she emphasised that only one night time with out brushing and flossing can result in large penalties that add up rapidly.
“For some people, plaque can start to harden into tartar in as little as 24 hours ― and once that happens, it can no longer be removed with a toothbrush or floss,” DiFoggio defined. “You’ll need a professional cleaning to get rid of it.”
Bear in mind the significance of consistency applies to each brushing and flossing.
“Brushing alone doesn’t reach between the teeth, where food and plaque tend to get trapped,” Ferjuste famous. “Flossing daily is essential for preventing cavities and gum disease.”
They don’t follow oil pulling instead of advisable day by day habits.
DiFoggio stated she by no means opts for oil pulling ― a follow that entails swishing edible oil round within the mouth ― instead of brushing and flossing.
“I’m not against oil pulling entirely,” she stated. “It can be a relaxing ritual for some, but it’s not a replacement for brushing and flossing. There’s limited scientific evidence supporting its benefits, and in my opinion, it’s not worth the time or effort. Oral hygiene routines should be backed by strong research, and oil pulling just isn’t there. It’s fine as an addition, but never as a substitute.”
They don’t use different toothpastes if the dangers fail to outweigh the rewards.
“You’ll never catch me using charcoal toothpaste,” DiFoggio stated. “While it might make your teeth look whiter at first, charcoal is abrasive and can wear down your enamel over time ― revealing the yellowish dentin underneath. It’s a fast track to sensitivity and discoloration.”
She added that even non-charcoal whitening toothpastes may cause sensitivity if overused, so she makes use of them sparingly and all the time prioritizes defending enamel. DiFoggio can be not a proponent of fluoride-free toothpaste.
“With so many myths floating around online, I see a lot of patients switching to fluoride-free toothpaste,” she stated. “But here’s the truth: Fluoride is safe and effective, and helps remineralize enamel where early cavities are trying to form ― especially in acidic conditions where damage happens.”
A robust different to fluoride, nano-hydroxyapatite, doesn’t even carry out as properly in opposition to acid.
“Plus, fluoride-free toothpastes aren’t regulated the same way, so you don’t always know what you’re getting,” DiFoggio stated. “Overall, not everyone needs fluoride, but if you’re cavity-prone, why take that chance?”
