As fall approaches, many of our patients are getting ready to jump back into their school-year routines. As you do, our Mill Valley dentists encourage you to make your oral health a priority; try developing some daily habits that improve your smile and support oral health…
Carry Water
Take an important step toward supporting your smile by carrying a water bottle with you during the day. We already know how important it is to stay hydrated; combating dry mouth lowers your risk of developing cavities, gum disease, and chronic bad breath. When you keep water with you, you are no longer dependent on finding accessible water fountains, and you always have a healthy alternative to sugary and acidic drinks.
Rinse Habitually
As you are getting used to your new routine, our team encourages you to set aside a moment to rinse your smile after consuming snacks and meals. This is a simple way to improve your oral health: clear away dental debris, minimize plaque-build up, dilute staining substances, super-charge saliva production, and re-mineralize dental enamel, all at once!
Minimize Bad Habits
Another thing that you can do is to stay alert for bad habits that may have surreptitiously made it into your daily routine. If, for example, you find yourself chomping on the end of your pen or pencil as you work, you may be damaging your dental enamel as well as your gum tissue. It’s also quite common for people to grind or clench their teeth in concentration. The problem is that this increases your risk of developing TMJ damage and thin enamel.
Sometimes the smallest changes to our routines can make the biggest differences over time. If you want to learn more about developing healthy dental habits, please feel free to reach out to our Mill Valley dentists! We are here to help you make the right decisions for your smile, day in and day out.