Getting caught in a faux pas can be embarrassing to say the least. You worry about the other person’s judgmental thoughts and dread that others will find out about your uncouth habits as well. When you visit the dentist, there are some revealing things they can learn from you by simply looking in your mouth, but surprisingly, they won’t judge you at all! Keep reading to learn more about these faux pas and why you should work with your dentist to get back on track with your habits.
You Come in Only for Dental Emergencies.
A quick look at your records will show how infrequently you visit the dentist, but your mouth can also betray this fact. Looking at your teeth, gums, and oral structures for your emergency visit, your dentist can tell when an issue could have been identified sooner. Especially if your emergency stems from tooth decay or biting something that normally wouldn’t break a teeth, signs indicate that the problem developed over time. If you come regularly, they can find the problem and fix it before it leads to an emergency.
You Don’t Replace Your Toothbrush Often.
In your mind, brushing with a worn toothbrush is better than nothing; however, you should replace your toothbrush about every 3 to 4 months. Warped bristles don’t clean effectively or efficiently no matter how diligently you brush. If you have held onto your old toothbrush for too long, your teeth may have more plaque, your gums may be inflamed from not getting directly cleaned, or the middle of your teeth may be slightly more worn than other areas.
You Don’t Floss Every Day.
Did you know that brushing your teeth only cleans about 60 percent of surfaces of your teeth? A significant amount of enamel isn’t accessible with your toothbrush, which means that if you don’t floss every day, you’ll leave nearly half of your teeth with food debris and plaque.
Flossing only takes a couple of minutes daily, but it clears the small spaces between teeth, drastically reducing buildup, especially near the gumline.
You Brush Just Once Daily.
Either in the morning or at night, you may be in a rush, but brushing just once per day doesn’t take care of the exposure your teeth have to bacteria in plaque. White, sticky plaque hardens within hours, becoming hard calculus. At that point, only professional cleaning with a dental team can take it off. Brushing twice per day limits the amount of plaque your teeth accumulate and gives you a better chance to avoid problems later.
Ultimately, your dentist will recognize these faux pas, but that doesn’t mean they will think poorly of you or shame you. Instead, they will bring issues to your attention for treatment, encourage you to adopt healthier habits, and even give you advice for overcoming bad ones. You can’t fool your dentist, but working with one doesn’t have to be embarrassing. It can be rewarding!
About the Practice
Williamsburg Dental is intricately connected to the Lincoln community with six locations. Our dentists not only have advanced training about most dental issues, but they also have compassion and empathy for our patients, which means you don’t have to worry about getting lectured at your appointments. We focus on meeting your needs as well as helping you regain function and confidence. To schedule an appointment, reach out to your preferred location via phone call or our website.