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Crimes Against Teeth

You might not realise it, but sometimes you can be harming your teeth just through sheer habit! We’ve put together our top six crimes and some suggestions on how to stop committing them!

Scrubbing too hard

Although the enamel that covers your teeth is one of the strongest substances in the body it can still be susceptible to damage from your toothbrush! Using a toothbrush with hard bristles can wear away the enamel, as can scrubbing backwards and forwards, leaving you at risk of tooth damage and sensitivity.
Our hygienists recommend using a medium textured toothbrush either a manual toothbrush or an electric one and brushing with a circular motion, so, why not ask them to show you next time you’re in?

Rinsing your mouth with water after brushing!

It might seem like a good idea, or even be something that you’ve done since a child, but washing away all the lovely protective fluoride that’s in your toothpaste isn’t such a good idea!
We recommend that after you’ve brushed you just spit away the excess toothpaste, allowing the fluoride to work longer on your teeth and help strengthen them.

Brushing after breakfast!

This might take a little time to get your head around, but brushing your teeth immediately after your first meal of the day can do more harm than good, especially if you enjoy a glass of fruit juice with your breakfast. The natural acids present in fruit can soften your enamel, so brushing straight away can actually abrade your teeth. It’s best to brush either before you eat breakfast, or leave it for an hour after eating.

Not checking food labels!

The majority of us are pretty aware that sugar causes decay, but, how often do you check the food labels to check what’s in them?
Seemingly healthy snacks, smoothies and drinks can have more sugar in them than you think. Look for sugars that are ‘hiding’ by calling themselves sucrose, glucose, dextrose, maltose, fructose and molasses. Why not check out some sugar-free options instead?

Not cleaning in-between your teeth!

Okay, so yes, we do nag about it, but think about it, 42% of your teeth’s surfaces are the ones that sit snugly up against one another, exactly the place where your toothbrush can’t reach. By using floss or inter-dental brushes you’ll make sure that you’re removing the plaque and bacteria from all those hard to reach spots.

Using your teeth to open bottles!

How many times have you sat down to enjoy a nice bottle of something cold and refreshing only to discover you don’t have a bottle-opener handy?
It’s all too tempting to use your teeth to do the job, but you run a high risk of doing some damage and either chipping a tooth, or really hurting your gums if the bottle slips!
To save your teeth from this particular crime watch this video and discover 21 ways to open a bottle that doesn’t include a bottle-opener, or your teeth!

You’ve Waited Long Enough

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