This two-part article series provides important advice on preventing the oral diseases that lead to tooth loss and the need for new teeth.

Welcome to the second installment of this two-part article series on the top tips for preventing tooth loss. In Part 1, we spoke to a new teeth professional in New Jersey who provided the first two important recommendations:

1. Brush your teeth and tongue for two minutes at a time, twice (or even three times) a day, everyday.

2. Floss every day before you go to bed at night.

“A thorough home oral hygiene routine is fundamental in the battle against the oral diseases that ultimately lead to tooth loss,” says a dental implants professional in New York.

But, there is more to keeping all of your natural pearly whites beautiful and healthy for life and in this article, we shall be addressing the habits to break in order to achieve this.

Bad, Bad Habits to Break

Tobacco use is one of the leading causes of gum disease and gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss. Smoking also compromises the ability of patients to fight off infection and heal after dental work is done, so your best chance of keeping all of your natural teeth is to kick the habit!

Unhealthy Eating

Unhealthy eating is also a habit that many people need to kick, according to a new teeth professional in New Jersey. A diet high in sugar, carbohydrates and acidic beverages, such as soda, fruit juice and energy drinks, can leave you at a much higher risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Bacteria thrive on sugar, so the more you expose your mouth to, the more conducive an environment it becomes for bacterial growth. People who eat badly usually don’t look after their teeth as well as they should either and the combination of the two is a sure-fire way to lose teeth!

Alcohol and Drug Abuse

“Heavy drinking and drug abuse take as heavy a toll on the health of your teeth and gums as they do on your body,” explains a dental implants professional in New York. “Alcoholic beverages are almost always full of sugar and/or acid, which wears away at the dental enamel protecting your teeth. Alcohol also causes a condition known as ‘dry mouth’, which impedes the natural production of saliva. Saliva is a natural anti-bacterial, so people with frequent dry mouth tend to be more susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease. There are even some prescription medications that cause this condition so be sure to speak to your doctor about dosage or even a substitute if you experience this side effect.”

Teeth grinding and jaw clenching are common physical manifestations of stress. While they can be difficult to control, especially because people tend to do them at night when they are asleep, you can mitigate the damage done by having a protective mouth guard fitted.

“You’d be surprised at how many people do irreparable damage to their teeth by using them for tasks for which they were not intended,” says the new teeth professional in New Jersey. “Tearing open packaging, forcing open containers, chewing on popcorn and ice… these are all habits that can crack, chip and wear away your teeth at a rate that is not natural. Only use your teeth for eating regular foods. If you can’t open something, get up and go grab the scissors or bottle opener. I’ve seen too many patients who were trying to impress their friends with a party trick, only to end up in my office with a badly cracked tooth.”

A Final Note

By maintaining a good standard of home oral hygiene, coming for regularly scheduled dental appointments and cleanings and avoiding the damaging habits discussed in this article, there’s no reason you can’t keep your teeth in excellent condition for life!