At some point in life, typically during the teenage years or early adulthood, a person begins to take full responsibility for his or her oral hygiene. That means there’s no more nagging from the parents about brushing and flossing. The individual must start thinking more maturely about avoiding sweet, sticky foods during the day and not sipping on sugary beverages all day long. After all, this young person soon will be accountable for making appointments with a clinic for Family Dentistry in Bridgeport CT. That accountability will also include paying for the services or having dental insurance to make the payments.
As an individual reaches the late 20s and early 30s, he or she may start becoming interested in teeth whitening. Teeth tend to gradually discolor over time, and that can make someone look older. Practitioners at a clinic for Family Dentistry in Bridgeport CT will provide this service, but only if the patient’s teeth and gums are healthy. Now, that twice-daily brushing and once-daily flossing become even more important. Without due diligence, teeth become more vulnerable to cavities and gums may show the initial signs of gum disease. A dentist wants to fill areas of tooth decay before proceeding with cosmetic service.
Some habits are entirely counterproductive for a healthy mouth and youthful white teeth. The main problematic habits include smoking and chewing tobacco. Tobacco products stain teeth and cause gum disease. They also are implicated in a higher risk of tooth decay. Dentists, such as those at Commerce Park Cosmetic Dentistry, strongly encourage patients to quit using these products. Cosmetic whitening does not overcome the negative effects for oral hygiene.
Many people are concerned about bad breath. Tobacco products are conclusively associated with this problem. People who don’t smoke can improve their breath by flossing every day to remove decaying food particles between teeth. Brushing the tongue helps a great deal because it removes odor-causing bacteria. In addition, chewing sugarless gum is advantageous. This not only freshens the breath with fragrant ingredients, but it also promotes saliva production. A dry mouth is more likely to have an unpleasant odor.
