However, many people wonder if smoking or vaping could contribute to gum bleeding. To address this, it’s essential to understand the effects these habits have on oral health. Here’s what you need to know when it comes to bleeding gums and smoking and vaping.

The Impact of Smoking on Oral Health

Smoking is well-known for its detrimental effects on overall health, and oral health is no exception. Here’s how smoking contributes to gum bleeding and other oral health issues:

• Reduced blood flow. Smoking constricts blood vessels, including those in the gums, which leads to reduced blood flow. This diminished circulation can cause the gums to become more susceptible to infections and bleeding.
• Compromised immune response. Smokers tend to have a weakened immune system, which affects their body’s ability to fight off infections, including those in the mouth. This can result in persistent gum inflammation and bleeding.
• Tartar and plaque buildup. Smoking increases the accumulation of tartar and plaque on teeth, which can lead to gum disease, the primary cause of gum bleeding, and tooth decay [1]. 

Vaping: A New Threat to Gum Health

Many people mistakenly think that vaping is better than smoking, but this is far from true. Here are some ways in which vaping might influence gum bleeding:

• Nicotine effects. Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which has a similar impact on blood flow and immune response as smoking. It contributes to reduced gum health, potentially causing bleeding.
• Chemical exposure. E-liquids in vapes contain harmful chemicals, the long-term effects of which on gums are still being studied. Some preliminary research suggests these chemicals may irritate gums and promote inflammation.
• Increased risk of periodontitis and tooth decay. Research shows that vaping increases the risk of gum disease and tooth decay compared to not smoking, though the oral health effects are less severe than those of traditional cigarettes [2].

Identifying Signs of Gum Disease

Gum bleeding is often a symptom of gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Understanding the warning signs of gum disease can help you seek treatment as soon as possible. Look out for:

• Swollen or tender gums
• Persistent bad breath
• Receding gums
• Loose teeth

If you notice these signs, it is crucial to address them promptly, as ignoring them can lead to more severe oral health problems, including periodontitis and tooth loss [3].

Take the Best Care of Your Gums

If you experience gum bleeding or any other symptoms of gum disease, it’s time to seek professional advice. Contact your dentist to schedule an appointment and discuss your concerns about gum health today. Together, you can create a plan to improve and maintain healthy gums!

Sources:

1. https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/health-effects-tobacco-use/how-tobacco-use-affects-oral-health
2. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10972225/
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557422/# 

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Smoking is also harmful to your smile and can lead to deeply stained teeth, gum disease, and oral cancer. If you’ve considered quitting tobacco before, there’s never been a better time to do so! How can you get started?

Get Motivated and Prepare

Having motivation to quit is a great way to get started. Do you want to save money, be healthier, look younger, or be around for your family in the future?

Once you have your reasons for quitting (these will help you later when dealing with your cravings!), talk to your doctor. They may recommend nicotine replacement therapy, which can safely double your chances of successfully quitting [2].

Have a support network in place as well. Support could include people who know you’re planning to quit and are ready to be an encouraging support for your during this time, to apps that encourage and remind you about your reasons to quit!

Identify Potential Triggers

Your triggers are things that make you feel like smoking or things that you associate with smoking. Identify your triggers—these could be people you smoke with, certain times throughout the day when you smoke, or feelings that make you want to smoke.

To help name your triggers, keep a log of every time you feel like you want a cigarette, and note the time of day, the activity you’re doing, or the people you’re with, as well as the intensity of the caving.

Noting your triggers will be helpful when it comes time to quit so you can better navigate your cravings and know what situations it will be helpful to avoid in the beginning [3].

Be Ready to Deal With Your Cravings

Cravings will inevitably happen as your body withdrawals from nicotine. Former smokers can have cravings even months after quitting, so it’s smart to be prepared to deal with your cravings before setting your quit date.

What are some ways you can deal with your nicotine cravings?

• Avoid or remove yourself from triggering situations. If you’re in a situation that’s making you really want to smoke, consider leaving or at least taking a short walk to help get your mind off of smoking. If you can, do your best to avoid triggering situations, at least for the first few weeks!
• Find something to put in your mouth. During a bad craving, reach for sugarless gum, mints, or even sunflower seeds to help you get through it. Just be sure that whatever you choose is safe for your smile (for example, chewing on ice or pencils is a no!).
• Drink a glass of water. Water has been shown to help reduce the symptoms of withdrawal from nicotine and may even help lessen cravings [4].
• Stay active and busy. Start an exercise regimen, go outside, go somewhere where you can’t smoke, or otherwise distract yourself to help you get through the craving!

Don’t Give Up!

Many people have to try quitting tobacco numerous times to finally quit, but don’t give up—you can do this! Remind yourself why you quit in the first place and, if you have to, begin again and set another quit date. Your family, your body, and your smile will thank you!

Sources:
1. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/effects_cig_s
2. https://smokefree.gov/tools-tips/how-to-quit/using-nicotine-replacement-therapy

3. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/addictions/how-to-quit-smoking.htm
4. https://teen.smokefree.gov/quit-vaping/vaping-addiction-nicotine-withdrawal

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The goal of oral cancer screenings is to identify any cancerous growths early to prevent the spread of the disease. An oral cancer screening is a simple process that typically happens during your regular checkup with your professional dentist.

Here’s what you can expect during an oral cancer screening!

A Physical Exam of Your Oral Cavity

Your dentist will conduct a physical exam of your oral cavity to look for areas in the mouth that may be red or white, such as sores or lesions [2]. Your dentist will also feel for lumps in your face, neck, and jaw that could be indicative of cancer.

The exam is comprehensive and includes your lips, the lining of your cheeks, gums, tongue, and the floor and roof of your mouth. This process is usually simple and painless—even for patients that experience dental anxiety, there’s no instruments used, just a simple visual exam.

A Few Brief Questions

During your oral cancer screening, your dentist will ask you about any changes in your health or if you’re having any symptoms related to oral cancer [3]. These symptoms could include unexplained pain, numbness, or bleeding in your oral cavity.

If you’re new at your dentist office, they may also ask about your history of cancer, smoking, or tobacco use to better understand your risk for oral cancer. Based on this information, your dentist will recommend screening options. Typically, oral cancer screenings happen annually for adults.

What Happens If Your Dentist Suspects Oral Cancer

If your dentist finds something that requires further investigation, don’t panic. Some lesions or bumps are benign—non-cancerous—and nothing to worry about. Your dentist may want to conduct a few additional tests to get a better idea of what their findings are.

These tests could include staining options such as blue or florescence stains, which can help healthcare professionals identify potentially cancerous growths [4]. Your dentist may also want to take a biopsy, in which cells are scraped and looked at to determine if further diagnosis is required.

Based on their findings, your dentist can refer you to a specialist for further testing and
diagnosis.

When Was Your Last Checkup?

Your regular dentist visits aren’t just for teeth cleanings—with an annual oral cancer screening, you can help catch oral cancer early to increase your chances of treatment success. Ask your dentist about their process for oral cancer screenings during your next checkup!

Sources:
1. https://report.nih.gov/nihfactsheets/ViewFactSheet.aspx?csid=106&key=O
2. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/oral-cancer-screening/about/pac-
3. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/o/oral-cancer
4. https://www.cancer.gov/types/head-and-neck/patient/oral-screening-pdq

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These signs and symptoms could include a bad taste in the mouth, bad breath that won’t go away even after brushing or using mouthwash, and inflamed gum tissue. Some people may even notice bleeding when they brush or experience shifting teeth.

But what exactly causes someone to get a gum infection? Here’s how gum infections happen and how they’re treated.

Common Causes of Gum Infection

There are several things that could lead to a gum infection, but one of the most common is periodontal (gum) disease [1].

Periodontal disease is typically the result of poor oral hygiene and genetics. Plaque and bacteria build up on the teeth and can work their way below the gumline. When this happens, the connective tissue that help hold your teeth in place are damaged and can cause pockets of infection [2].

Periodontal disease can progress slowly or rapidly depending on the person and the cause. For many people, they won’t experience symptoms until the condition has advanced.

People who use tobacco are more at risk to experience a gum infection as are people who have a compromised immune system, such as people who are receiving immunotherapy drugs such as chemotherapy.

How a Gum Infection Is Treated

Prompt treatment can help reverse your gum disease and prevent it from progressing to the point that you’re at risk for tooth loss. You should ideally contact your dentist as soon as you suspect an infection might be present.

Your dentist will want to conduct a deep cleaning of your teeth—this is often referred to as a root planing and scaling in dentistry—which will help to remove the infection underneath your gums.

Taking care of your teeth and gums at home is going to be vital to healing your gum infection. You may need to adopt healthier eating habits, quit smoking, and, of course, brush and floss daily. In addition, your dentist may prescribe antibiotics to help the infection go away or administer an antibiotic treatment at the office.

If your gum disease doesn’t respond to treatment or has progressed past the point that a good cleaning and antibiotics will help, you may need surgery or gum tissue grafts to help heal your smile.

For dentists that use laser technology, you may be able to receive laser therapy in conjunction with the above treatments for a more comprehensive approach to treating the infection [3].

Keep Your Gums Healthy!

Gums are vital to the health of our teeth and need to be kept healthy. Gums keep our teeth secure in our jaw and support proper oral health.

By regularly visiting your dentist in combination with regular oral health habits, you can prevent gum infections from happening in the first place. Schedule an appointment with your local dentist if you suspect a gum infection is compromising your oral health!

Sources:
1. https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/periodontal_disease/index.htm
2. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/g/gum-disease
3. https://www.perio.org/consumer/gum-disease-laser-therapy

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What exactly is the impact of marijuana on dental health? Here’s how marijuana could be harming your teeth and gums over time.

Increased Risk of Periodontal Disease

Similar to smoking cigarettes, smoking marijuana has been linked to gum disease. Research shows a correlation between regular marijuana use and an increased risk of gum disease.

Higher rates of gum disease have been noted among people who use marijuana frequently, so the more you use marijuana, the more likely you are to have gum disease. In addition, studies have shown that gum disease may manifest earlier in life for marijuana users.

Although a causal link hasn’t been established, experts speculate that marijuana irritates the soft tissues of the mouth and causes damage to the ligaments that help anchor the teeth in place, making gum disease more likely.

Reduced Saliva Contributes to Tooth Decay

Marijuana dries out the oral cavity by reducing production of saliva. This leads to dry mouth, which has been linked to tooth decay and chronic bad breath.

How does this happen? Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active component in marijuana, inhibits salivary glands in the mouth from producing saliva. When saliva production is blocked, the mouth quickly becomes dry.

A dry mouth typically has a lower pH, leading your oral cavity to be more acidic. Having a lower pH increases the chances that tooth decay will occur, as harmful bacteria attack tooth enamel and can erode it away.

Potentially Higher Risk of Oral Cancers

In some studies, marijuana has been linked to an increased risk of oral cancer. These cancers include cancers of the mouth and neck. Research has been inconclusive when it comes to marijuana and an increased cancer risk, but here’s what we do know.

Marijuana contains many of the same carcinogens as cigarettes. Marijuana smoke also contains higher concentrations of these toxic chemicals than cigarettes. Ongoing research is needed, but at this time, it’s best to be cautionary when it comes to marijuana and its known toxins.

Yellowing Teeth

Although not exactly a health impact of marijuana, marijuana smokers, just like tobacco smokers, are more likely to have yellow teeth. Their teeth are more at risk to take on a yellow or brown hue due to using this substance. By minimizing smoking or avoiding it altogether, you can help your teeth remain white and free of deep staining.

When it comes to marijuana, we know that it’s been linked to a higher risk of periodontal disease and is known for drying out the oral cavity, which can increase your risk for tooth decay. Although the jury is still out on whether or not marijuana use increases your risk for oral cancer, avoiding smoking or reducing your use can help you better maintain a healthy smile!

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Gums are an integral part of our mouths, helping to support the teeth, protect the tooth roots,
and nurture our smiles. How can you maintain healthy gum tissue?

1. Brush and Floss

Brushing and flossing are among the top things you can do to help your gums. However, how
you brush and floss is just as important as whether or not you brush and floss!
When it comes to gum tissue, gently brushing the gumline at a 45-degree angle can help
remove bacteria that build up near the tooth roots and help prevent gum disease. Never brush
aggressively and always choose a soft-bristled toothbrush to protect the gums rather than
irritating them.

For flossing, use at least 18 inches of floss and use a clean section between every set of teeth.
Floss gently just underneath the gumline to remove plaque, food debris, and bacteria. This can
help your smile remain healthy and prevent gum disease!

2. Visit Your Dentist

Your dentist is going to be a key player when it comes to maintaining healthy gum tissue.
Dentists are trained to spot signs of gum disease in the early stages, so having a professional
check your gums is important.

Getting regular checkups can not only ensure your gum tissue is healthy, but also help you to
cultivate best practices for keeping it healthy. Your dentist can point out areas that you’ve
missed in your smile and also conduct regular cleanings to remove any plaque that has built up
near the gumline.

There’s no substitute for visiting your dentist when it comes to gum health!

3. Avoid Tobacco Products

Although far fewer people smoke today than they did decades ago, tobacco products are still a
threat to our health.

This includes our teeth and gums. Even smokeless tobacco options such as chewing tobacco still
contain nicotine, which can reduce blood supply to the gum tissue and mask symptoms of gum
disease. The same is true for e-cigarettes, which deliver nicotine to the body and can still harm
your gums.

Since these products can mask the symptoms of gum disease, many tobacco users don’t realize
there is a problem until it’s too late. Since gum disease is one of the biggest causes of tooth
loss, this is a serious problem for people around the world.

By avoiding all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, you give your gums their best chance to
remain healthy and give you a beautiful smile for life!

Are your gums as healthy as you would like them to be? Gum tissue is an integral part of our
smiles and provides us with a healthy mouth for life. Consider getting your gums evaluated with
your dentist to ensure they’re healthy and strong!

The post 3 Steps You Can Take to Help Maintain Healthy Gums appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Cigarette smokers are more prone to many different illnesses. In addition to increasing your risk
for asthma, heart disease, stroke, and cancer, cigarette smokers are also more likely to have
dental health issues. Here’s how cigarette smoke can damage your smile.

Gum Disease

Cigarette smoke affects the soft tissues of the mouth in addition to the teeth. Your gum tissue
is essential in supporting your teeth. Smoking inhibits blood circulation in the gum tissue,
meaning the teeth won’t be as healthy due to lack of blood supply and nutrients in the gums.

Smoking also means you’re more likely to get infections, such as those from gum disease,
because your immune system is impacted by the toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke. People
who smoke are not only twice as likely to get gum disease, but gum disease is harder to treat in
people who smoke because the body doesn’t respond as well to treatments as someone with a
healthy immune system.

The longer you smoke and the more you smoke, the more your smile will be impacted by oral
health problems such as gum disease.

Oral Cancer

The immune system is impacted by cigarette smoke in addition to your cells—healthy cells have
the potential to turn cancerous, meaning oral cancer is a very real risk for smokers.

Oral cancer includes cancers of the mouth, throat, and tongue. People who smoke aren’t just
affected by oral cancer. Tobacco is known to cause lung cancer, kidney cancer, stomach cancer,
and pancreatic cancer, in addition to being linked to many other diseases.

Smokers can expect to have a substantially greater risk for oral cancer than non-smokers. Most
dentists advocate for an oral cancer screening yearly for everyone, not just people who smoke.
People who smoke may be encouraged to come in more often for these screenings.

Tooth Loss

Along with increased plaque and tartar in the mouth, smoking affects the teeth as well as the
immune system and your gum tissue, which, of course, are all connected!

Since smoking can impact the gum tissue and cause infections and gum recession, teeth have
the potential to fall out. Gum tissue plays a major role in supporting teeth, and gum disease is
one of the major causes of tooth loss in older adults.

In addition, smoking causes loss of bone in your jaw, which can further inhibit the necessary
support for your teeth. Smoking cigarettes also means your body doesn’t heal as well as
someone who doesn’t smoke, so smokers typically see lower success rates with tooth
replacements such as dental implants.

If you’re a daily smoker or even just a recreational one, you’re increasing your chances for
major oral health problems. In addition to seeing your dentist every six months for a checkup,
ask your doctor or dentist about quitting. Your body and your smile will thank you!

The post Are Cigarette Smokers More Prone to Dental Health Issues? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

1. Visit Your Dentist

If you haven’t been to the dentist in a while, there’s no better time than now to commit to
going. With appointments every 6-12 months, this is a time commitment that everyone can
make. Visits to the dentist can prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and can even help catch oral
cancer early. Schedule an appointment with your dentist to get a dental exam and a
professional cleaning. Your smile will thank you!

2. Don’t Smoke

Smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your smile as well as your body. Smoking is
one of the biggest risk factors for certain types of cancer, including oral cancer, as well as gum
disease. Smoking also discolors teeth and often causes a yellow or brown tinge to your tooth
enamel. That doesn’t sound like the smile you want in the New Year!

There are more resources now than ever for quitting smoking. Talk to your dentist or your
doctor about quitting. There is hope that one day you’ll be cigarette-free, and remember—e-
cigarettes and chewing tobacco aren’t any better for your oral health!

3. Floss

There’s been some debate about whether flossing actually makes much of an impact on your
smile, but dentists remain firm—flossing should continue to be part of your oral care routine.
Flossing helps remove plaque and food debris from the sides of your teeth, which can’t be
reached with a toothbrush. Flossing needs to be done just once per day and only takes a few
minutes. This is an oral health improvement you can surely commit to doing!

4. Improve Your Diet

More research is showing just how crucial your diet is to your oral health. Diets high in sugar
and processed foods can lead to tooth decay and gum disease, while diets rich in whole foods
help supply your smile with the nutrients it needs to remain healthy and strong. In 2018, make
a commitment to eat more fruits and vegetables in addition to lean protein sources and healthy
fats such as walnuts, fish, and avocado. These diet improvements may help your pearly whites!

5. Limit Your Alcohol

Alcohol, like smoking, is a big risk factor for many cancers, including oral cancer. Alcohol is also
very damaging to your tooth enamel and can increase your risk of tooth decay. Like soda, it’s
very acidic and corrosive. For one of your New Year’s resolutions, try to limit your alcohol
intake. How much is too much? Many experts agree that 1 drink a day for women and 2 per
men is the maximum you should have!

Are you ready to ring in 2018 with a super smile? By incorporating these five resolutions into
your oral care routine, you can have a beautiful smile not just for the New Year, but for life.
Schedule an appointment with your dentist to set up a long-term care plan for one of the best
and most important things about you—your smile!

The post Top 5 New Year’s Resolutions for Improving Your Dental Health appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

The main causes of gum disease are usually easy to control and you can minimize your risk for
gum disease simply by taking care of them. What are some of the main causes of gum disease
and how can you minimize your risk?

Plaque Is the Number One Cause

Plaque is that colorless sticky substance that forms on your teeth a few hours after brushing. It
can make teeth feel “fuzzy” and is easily removed through regular brushing. Plaque is the
number one cause of gum disease when it’s not properly removed.

Brushing is the best way to remove plaque; however, many people don’t brush all the possible
surface areas of their teeth. If you neglect to floss, you’re missing nearly 50% of your mouth: all
the spaces in between your teeth are still subject to damage from plaque. Plaque can eat away
at tooth enamel and cause decay. If not removed, it can harden into tartar which can only be
professionally removed by a dentist.

Plaque eventually irritates the gum tissue and can cause your immune system to respond. As a
result, an infection can form which can cause a bad smell, bleeding, and sensitivity in your
mouth. These are all signs of gum disease!

Crowded Teeth or Teeth Grinding

When you aren’t able to clean your teeth properly due to crowding, this increases your risk for
gum disease. Fortunately, crowded teeth can be fixed through orthodontic treatment, which
will make it easier for you to clean your smile and remove all the plaque. In the meantime, visit
your dentist for a professional cleaning to help.

If you grind your teeth, this can cause trauma to your gums. Teeth grinding can cause gums to
become irritated and inflamed. Eventually the amount of pressure put on your teeth can cause
damage to ligaments that help anchor your teeth, which will lead to loose teeth.

Smoking and Poor Nutrition

If you smoke or chew tobacco, you have an increased risk of gum disease. Tobacco can cause
dry mouth and smokers have higher incidences of tartar. Patients who smoke also tend to have
gum disease that progresses faster and more severely than those who don’t smoke.

Poor nutrition also influences gum disease. Eating lots of processed foods as well as sugar can
cause bacteria to build up. This can lead to more plaque which will need to be removed through
careful brushing. Eating fresh, crunchy foods can actually help remove plaque and keep your
mouth moist, which cuts down on plaque growth.

Knowing the causes of gum disease can help you to avoid them. Always brush, floss, and visit
your dentist to cut down on plaque and keep your smile healthy. Seek orthodontic treatment if
you need it as well as treatment for teeth grinding. Quitting smoking and eating healthy can
help you avoid gum disease. You can have healthy gums to support your pearly whites for life!

The post What Are Some of the Main Causes of Gum Disease? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Plaque is that sticky, colorless pelicule of bacteria that forms on teeth, making them feel fuzzy. It is most visible when we don’t brush our teeth and, by all intents and purposes, it is a true slimy lair of bacteria and the substances they produce. If left untreated this biofilm leads to the damage of tooth enamel, cavity formations, gum diseases, formation of tartar or calculus on the teeth, bad breath and many other dental health disorders. While you can try some reliable halitosis cure methods, ending up on the dentist’s chair to fix cavities and infections just because you indulge in your bad habits is not like a walk in the park. Let’s see today the most common five bad habits that lead to tooth plaque.

1. Poor Oral Hygiene

Forgetting to brush at least twice a day, poor brushing habits, forgetting to floss and skipping your dental visits lead in time to the formation of plaque which can lead to the more dangerous problems mentioned above. Don’t allow plaque to proliferate and become something more health threatening! Brush at least once in the morning and once in the evening and floss daily. Plaque proliferates also in between the teeth and without flossing, you risk more severe damages. Bad brushing is also an encouraging factor for plaque thriving. Brush for the recommended 2 minutes, don’t skin the side of the teeth and the tongue, brush as close as possible to the gums’ line and make sure you reach the teeth in the back.

2. You Eat Junk Food

Sugar and starches are the number one type of foods that contain carbohydrates and leave traces and particulates on your teeth. Cakes, candy, milk and dairy products, sodas, and soft drinks entertain the thriving of bacteria. The bacteria in turn produce acid. In time and with the improper oral health care, these acids lead to the formation of plaque and tooth decay, rotting away the enamel. What few people know is that plaque can also thrive on the tooth roots under the gums thus causing breakdowns of the bones supporting the teeth. If you have such snacks in between your meals, brush your teeth, floss and use antibacterial rinse so you can keep the bacteria causing plaque and gum disease to a minimum.

3. Smoking

Now smoking is a general health problem which unfortunately begins in your mouth. Prolonged smoking leads to plaque build-up, yellow and stained teeth, tooth decay, discolorations, gum diseases, tooth loss, serious cases of bad breath, sore and dry mouth and tongue, and even tongue and cheeks sores and diseases. Of course, smoking can also be a contributing factor to oral cancer and mouth skin / lips irritations or skin conditions (rashes, sores etc.).

Quitting smoking isn’t a walk in the park either and it needs plenty of will and support. Many times it can also require medical and psychological support – but it would be for your own good. In case you can’t quit smoking yet, try brushing your teeth and use antibacterial mouth rinse every chance you get during the day.

4. Your Daily Cups of Java

Your morning coffee might be the only thing to actually wake you up for a new day, but the rest of the coffee cups you pour during work hours or in the evening aren’t as beneficial for your teeth as they might be for you. In fact, since we are here talking about caffeine, what you should know is that too much intake of your daily fuel might actually make you feel exhausted and fatigued due to its rebound effects.

Back to the teeth, coffee does stain your teeth almost immediately and leads up to their over-time yellowing. Of course, being slightly acidic itself, it also entertains the formation of plaque. But while you can still brush and floss in the morning after you had your first coffee cup, it is harder to cut down its effects on your teeth during the work day. Coffee leaves your mouth dry and if you love it with some cream and sugar, well… remember what we said earlier about too much sugar? Cavities and tooth decay, together with tartar are the most probable negative side effects. While the first mug of coffee is acceptable, try replacing the next cups with tea or sugarless natural fruit juices – and use mouth rinse to clear off bacteria in case you can’t brush at the office.

5. Drinking Wine

A glass of red (and natural, high-quality) wine is actually healthy for your heart and circulatory system, but bad for your teeth. Red wines stain your teeth immediately and cause them to yellow. Also, being acidic, they do entertain plaque. The chromogens in the wine (active pigments in red wine) have immediate staining effects. The pigments will set on the tooth enamel as it is not smooth. In order to avoid that, brush and floss the teeth before drinking the wine and try to take a sip of water in between two sips of wine. After you finished dinner or the glass, brush again or use mouth rinse to prevent bacteria from thriving (if you are in a restaurant for instance).

These are just a few bad habits that entertain plaque and its subsequent oral health issues. If you can’t get rid of them altogether, at least don’t skip your dental appointments and follow your doctor’s orders.

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