Just like hair and clothing, there are always new trends in dentistry. It’s one thing when your dentist attends training after training to learn new methods that can enhance the experiences of their patients, but when non-professionals make trendy decisions that could harm their teeth, your dentist is secretly cringing. At Dental Solutions of Mississippi, we want to inform you about these harmful trends before you cause irreversible harm to your beautiful smile.
The Trends That Make Your Dentist Cringe
- Permanently altering the shape of your teeth — We’re not referring to straightening your smile with orthodontics or using veneers to correct imperfections, we’re talking about widening the gap between your front teeth or “sharpening” incisors to look like fangs. Both of these alterations can cause your bite to become misaligned and weaken your teeth, making them more susceptible to chipping and cracking.
- Mouth jewelry — While lip and tongue piercing have been around for years, they’re still trendy. Not only can a tongue piercing cause nerve damage, it also creates an opportunity for bacteria to take over and spread to the gums. Bejeweling the teeth doesn’t pose quite as many risks as piercings, but the jewels themselves can trap food particles and bacteria, resulting in disease and decay.
- Brushing with charcoal toothpaste — Known for its ability to whiten teeth, charcoal is all the rage these days. While it does offer short-term whitening, it is abrasive enough to weaken tooth enamel, which is your body’s first defense against decay. Once your enamel has been compromised, the layer beneath — the dentin — becomes exposed and causes sensitivity to heat and cold. For truly white teeth, you are better off with professional whitening, which is not only more effective, but safer, as well.
We understand that you want to stay on top of trends; we just hope you pick trends that won’t harm your smile. If you live in or near Canton, Mississippi, we’d love to help you have the beautiful, healthy smile you’ve always wanted. Contact our office today to schedule an appointment.