Our Cincinnati Ohio dental office is here to treat your dental issues and keep your smile healthy and bright. We can do everything from dental cleanings and exams to rebuilding the smile with elite restorative dentistry.

But when it comes to maintenance, you play the biggest role. You need to have a great oral hygiene routine day-by-day  in order to fight off some of the most common dental problems, like tooth decay and gum disease. Whenever you visit Bell Dental Group, our hygiene team will walk you through the treatment and provide helpful dental tips for you. We’d love to see you in our office. So give us a call today at 513-434-3266.

In the meantime, here are some common dental mistakes you’ll want to avoid.

1. Skipping out on floss

Floss is an important part of your dental hygiene. We know you’ve heard about the importance of flossing, but many Americans still do not floss. A recent study published by the American Dental Association found that only about 4 out of 10 Americans floss regularly. That’s a huge problem. Flossing is a great way to reduce your risk of problems like gum disease and tooth decay. And consider this fact, about 35 perfect of the tooth is beneath the gum line, and the best way to clean that area is with floss. So, if you’re not flossing, it’s safe to say that you’re not cleaning the entire portion of the tooth.

2. Ignoring dental pain

You shouldn’t have dental pain. If your teeth or gums are sore, something is wrong. The problem is that people often overlook dental pain. The issue is that infections, like tooth decay or gum disease, will not go away on their on. You’ll need dental intervention. So if you ignore dental pain, you might be allowing dental problems to get worse. Too often we’ve seen a patient with a simple cavity ignore the problem and then need extensive reconstruction.

  1. Brushing too hard

There is an epidemic of people brushing their teeth too hard. People unfortunately believe that heavy brushing is needed to remove dental bacteria and plaques. It isn’t. Plaque is actually a soft substance that can easily be removed with soft brushing. Instead of brushing the tooth hard, try to brush longer. We recommend that you brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day. During those two minutes, be sure to reach every section of your mouth.  

  1. Bad eating habits

Chewing on ice or snacking on sugary treats can destroy your smile. Foods high in acidity also can damage the enamel on your teeth. Foods high in calcium (like cheese and milk) strengthen your teeth. Also, drinking water throughout the day will help flush food debris from the teeth and reduce the risk of plaque and bacteria buildup.

These are just a few tips to help you maintain a healthier smile. We hope you can visit our office to learn more about your smile. Give us a call today at  513-802-9440 to book an appointment.