5 ways to harm your teeth

The enamel on your teeth is the hardest part of your body, but even they can get worn down from years of misuse, neglect and abuse. Here are 5 ways to wreck your teeth that you want to avoid. 1. Brushing Right After Every Meal Ideally, you should brush three times per day: after breakfast, after lunch and after dinner. But, if you brush too soon after eating, you can scrub away some of the enamel that has been softened by the acid your mouth produces when you eat. Wait half an hour to an hour after eating before you brush your teeth. This will give the acid time to neutralize and your teeth can remineralize. Also, brushing too hard with a hard bristled brush can also damage your enamel. 2. Forgetting to Floss can do harm. Flossing your teeth cleans between the teeth and under the gum line. If your gums tend to bleed, it is a sign of gingivitis and means your gums need to be taken better care of. Brushing and flossing should take place after every meal. The longer food stays lodged in contact with the gums the more problems it can create. 3. Skipping Checkups It is recommended to go to the dentist every six months, but many patients do not. Not going often enough allows plaque to form into tartar which is much harder to get off and also attracts more plaque. Tartar also carries the plaque into the gums, causing the structure of the teeth to weaken. 4. Using Your Teeth Like Tools, they are not an opener Using your teeth to break up hard candy, open bags and pop of bottle tops can cause your teeth to break or crack. Instead of using your teeth to help you do things, opt for a scissors or bottle opener and save your teeth the extra wear and tear. 5. Ditching the Mouth guard in sports Mouth guards are recommended for most athletes. In any sport where there is a heightened change of contact with something hard or another player, a mouth piece should be worn. Sports like basketball, football, baseball, wrestling, lacrosse and martial arts call pose the risk of getting hit in the mouth by another player or a ball.