1. Drinking Seltzer Water

Many people consider seltzer water, sometimes referred to as sparkling water, as a healthier alternative to soda.

While sparkling water with no added sugar can be better than soda in some instances, it’s still infused with carbon dioxide to give it bubbles. However, this carbon dioxide turns into carbonic acid, which lowers the pH of the drink.

What this means is that whereas regular water typically has a pH of around 7, seltzer water has a pH of around 3-4 [1]. Some sodas have a pH of as low as 2, which is extremely acidic, but seltzer water isn’t as much of a healthier choice as people think.

2. Brushing Your Teeth Too Hard

Your tooth enamel is the hardest substance in your body, but it can still be damaged from acidic foods and drinks, bacteria, and yes, even brushing your teeth too hard!

Brushing aggressively isn’t necessary to remove plaque from your teeth. Take the time to brush each tooth and floss and harsh brushing won’t be necessary. And remember to choose a toothbrush with soft bristles to further minimize damage to your tooth enamel!

3. Mouth Breathing

Breathing through your mouth can be damaging to your tooth enamel, especially when done on a regular basis. In fact, mouth breathing can promote gum disease and tooth decay [2]! People may breathe through their mouths when snoring, exercising, or just out of habit. Regardless, take steps to curb this harmful habit, which can dry out your mouth and promote bacteria that cause oral disease.

4. Snacking

Constantly exposing your oral cavity to snacks throughout the day can damage your tooth enamel. Snacking is fine, but try to limit your snacks so that you aren’t consistently eating.

When we eat food, our mouths begin to break down the food through bacteria and saliva. But eating too frequently or eating the wrong kinds of foods can harm teeth. When you do snack, choose healthy options such as apples or carrots!

5. Not Addressing Acid Reflux

If you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), otherwise known as acid reflux, it’s important to have this condition under control. Not only can acid reflux be harmful to your stomach and esophagus—it can be extremely damaging to teeth.

For some patients with acid reflux, harsh stomach acids can travel up the esophagus and end up in the oral cavity, where they can wreak havoc on teeth. These acids can wear away tooth enamel, leading to tooth sensitivity, discoloration, cavities, and even tooth loss [3].

Did you know any of these five things could hurt your teeth? Be mindful when taking care of your smile. By protecting your teeth and gums with regular healthy habits, you can smile bright for life!

Sources:
1. https://cspinet.org/tip/your-seltzer-habit-harming-your-teeth
2. https://www.health.harvard.edu/oral-health/does-breathing-through-my-mouth-affect-my-dental-health
3. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/e/tooth-erosion-and-acid-reflux

The post 5 Ways You’re Hurting Your Teeth (And Don’t Know It!) appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Too much or too little gum tissue can cause the gums to appear uneven. Some people will have this issue present their whole lives, while others may have it develop later in life. A crooked gumline has many causes from genetics to gum disease to hormone changes during pregnancy.

But what can be done about an uneven gumline? Here are your treatment options based on what could be causing this issue!

If Your Gums Are Receding

If your gumline is uneven due to receding gum tissue, you may see areas where the gums appear to pull back from the teeth, giving some teeth a longer appearance and exposing tooth roots. A receding gumline can also be caused by:

• Brushing your teeth too aggressively
• Gum disease
• Smoking and tobacco use

You’ll need to visit your dentist to know for certain what the cause is. If your gum recession is the result of advanced gum disease, you may need a gum graft to repair missing gum tissue [1].

However, if the appearance of your gums is caused by aggressive brushing, switching to a softer toothbrush may be able to help.

If You Have Gummy Smile

Your uneven gums could be caused by gummy smile, a condition in which gum tissue covers too much of the teeth. Gummy smile could also be caused by the muscles in the upper lip exposing too much gum tissue when smiling, in which case, dental treatment may not be appropriate.

While gummy smile typically doesn’t affect oral health, it can be treated in a cosmetic procedure called gingival contouring, or gum contouring, which can be done with a laser to essentially reshape the gum tissue to permanently improve appearance [2].

If the Cause is Genetic

When uneven gums are caused by genetics, gum reshaping is usually the best treatment option to give you a smile that looks natural and healthy.

This form of cosmetic gum surgery will require that you treat any underlying issues beforehand—for instance, if you have a mild form of gum disease, it’ll need to be addressed before the procedure.

A gum contouring procedure can be done at your dentist’s office with local anesthesia and requires minimal recovery time, for some patients a few days and up to two weeks depending on your unique smile [3]. Your dentist can let you know more about what to expect during your consultation.

Are You Experiencing Uneven Gum Tissue?

If you have uneven gums, there is treatment available to help restore your appearance based on what’s causing the issue. Your dentist can further evaluate your gums to determine how best to treat your irregular gumline and give you a beautiful smile.

Schedule an appointment with your oral healthcare professional today to learn about your options!

Sources:
1. https://www.perio.org/consumer/gum-graft-surgery
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4672859/
3. https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/gum-contouring-procedure#2-6

The post What Can Be Done to Treat an Uneven Gumline? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.