Everyone has heard about how brushing twice daily, flossing and using mouthwash can help prevent decay, gum disease and other dental issues. But what a lot of patients don’t realize is how bad certain habits can be for your oral health as well. If you are guilty of any of these poor dental habits, making an effort to stop can greatly reduce your risk of dental issues down the road.

Biting Nails

One nervous habit that a lot of people seem to be affected by is nail biting, sadly chewing on your nails can have very negative effects on your teeth. When you chew on your nails you run the risk of chipping and cracking your teeth along with damage it can have on your jaw. There are nail polishes which can help deter nail biting, along with practicing stress reducing techniques.

Clenching/Grinding Teeth

If you often wake up with tooth pain, or a discomfort in your jaw you may grind your teeth in your sleep. Some patients even have issues with clenching their jaw during the day. For patients that suffer from teeth grinding, Town Square Dental offers mouthguards which can help prevent damage such as cracking and chipping from clenching. If you or a loved one suffers from teeth grinding/clenching, contact our Pasadena dental office for an appointment today!

Snacking Too Often

Most Americans brush their teeth once or twice a day, cleaning away debris and bacteria. But what exactly happens in between those brushings? Bacteria and plaque can begin to build up, this is especially the case for patients who snack frequently. The debris left over in your mouth after eating can feed bacteria, increasing growth. Sugary snacks and beverages can be worse than healthy snacks, if you must snack we recommend fresh vegetables or nuts. Always be sure to wash it down with some water after, this can help prevent plaque and bacteria buildup.

Are you tired of sleeping in your bed alone? Do you wake up feeling like you never even went to sleep? Sleep Apnea treatment from Town Square Dental can help! Sleep apnea affects millions of Americans every night, disrupting sleep and causing other related health issues. With our oral appliance therapy, you can have improved sleep and wake up feeling better each day.

Why Choose Oral Appliance Therapy?

Oral appliance therapy is a non-invasive treatment method for sleep apnea that is also highly effective. Most patients don’t mind the oral appliance therapy due to its comfort, convenience and durability. If your doctor has decided a dental appliance is a right choice for your sleep apnea, you should receive a prescription for the dental appliance. You can also request a referral to Town Square Dental.

How Can I Treat My Sleep Apnea at Town Square Dental?

First you must contact our office and schedule an appointment if you’ve received a referral let us know. At your first sleep apnea dental appointment we will discuss the various oral appliances available, the benefits of the treatment and the cost of oral appliance therapy. You will also have a dental examination, which will evaluate your airway, tongue, teeth and jaw. X-rays may be necessary to understand your exact sleep apnea situation. A mold will also be created to be sent to the lab which will custom make your sleep apnea device.

A second appointment will be necessary once your custom sleep apnea device has been made. We will test the comfort and fit of your device and make any adjustments necessary for comfort and treatment.

If you or a loved one suffers from snoring and lack of sleep due to sleep apnea, contact Town Square Dental today! We’d be happy to discuss sleep apnea treatment, cost and advantages.

Did you know roughly 20% of Americans never floss their teeth? Flossing properly removes plaque and food particles where a toothbrush cannot reach easily. Between your teeth and under your gum line are very hard to reach places; a buildup of plaque in those unreached areas can lead to gum disease and even tooth decay. Daily flossing is always recommended.

Although you would assume most adults know how to floss properly, this sadly is not the case. Many people either do it incorrectly or not at all. In order to get the most benefit out of your flossing, please follow these 4 simple steps:

• Get a piece of floss approximately 18 inches in length and wrap it around both middle fingers, with more on one finger than the other. Leave one to two inches of floss to utilize.
• Hold the dental floss tightly between your thumb and index finger, slide it between your teeth up-and-down gently.
• Glide the dental floss between your teeth using a zig-zag motion, making sure to go gently beneath the gum line. Do not use too much pressure, this could cause bleeding and damage to gums.
• Move from tooth to tooth, repeating the process and do not forget your very back teeth! They are susceptible to plaque, gum disease and tooth decay as well.

As times goes on, new methods of flossing have come to the market. Floss picks have grown in popularity, making flossing easier. The drawback is that the floss picks cannot reach all the same areas regular floss can. We recommend using regular floss every so often to ensure you are getting every spot. Dental water jets are another newer method to flossing; it utilizes a stream of pulsating water to remove plaque and food particles from your teeth.

We hope with these helpful tips that flossing becomes an easier, more routine process for you. Remember that a dental checkup is still necessary even if you practice at-home dental care, so contact the best dentist in Pasadena, today!