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Cosmetic Dentistry in Leeds Can Make Your Teeth Look Great, but What Things Could Harm Your Smile?

If you’ve recently had cosmetic dentistry in Leeds then you’ll want to keep your smile looking is sparking as possible. An important part of this is visiting Leeds City Dentalcare at regular intervals for check-ups and cleanings, as well as brushing twice a day and flossing once a day. However there are other factors that can affect your dental health and these include:

• Sports Drinks. If you like to work out then you may be in the habit of having a sports drink to top up on vital fluids, but although these drinks are increasingly popular, they’re not very good for your teeth. It’s been found that many are quite acidic, and could wear away your tooth enamel. In addition these drinks can contain high amounts of sugar that are the ideal food for bacteria that will produce acid as a by-product, increasing the chance of tooth decay.
• Citrus Fruits. Citrus fruits are well known for containing high levels of vitamins C, something that’s generally considered healthy. However they also contain citric acid which can erode your tooth enamel, increasing the risk of cavities. If you enjoy a nice juicy orange than it’s worth rinsing your mouth with water afterwards or chewing sugar-free gum that contains xylitol, as this ingredient can help to inhibit bacteria that cause cavities.
• Teeth Grinding. Teeth grinding or bruxism can do a tremendous amount of damage to your smile, and is something that often occurs at night making it difficult to detect. Teeth grinding can wear down the teeth and can also affect the gums. This is something that Dr David Brown or our dentist in Leeds can help you with through prescribing a custom-made mouthguard to wear at night.
• Wine. Many of us like to enjoy a glass of wine, but regular consumption could damage your tooth enamel as wine can be quite acidic. This applies to both white and red wine, and both can increase the rate of tooth staining.
• Dry Mouth or Xerostomia. This is a condition caused by insufficient saliva, and it’s another thing that can be very harmful for your teeth and gums. Saliva helps to keep your mouth clean and hygienic, washing away excess bacteria and helping to neutralise acids. If you do have dry mouth then there are several things you can do, including making sure you drink plenty of water, chewing sugar-free gum to stimulate the production of saliva, or using an artificial saliva substitute.
• Overusing Teeth Whitening Products. If you choose to have your teeth whitened at Leeds City Dentalcare then we will give you plenty of advice on how often you can touch up the results. It’s important to follow this advice closely, as over bleaching your teeth could increase tooth sensitivity, and after a certain point they probably went to anything to help bleach your teeth.
• Poor Diet. Your diet does affect your teeth, so if you’re watching what you eat make sure you’re getting plenty of vitamins and minerals necessary to keep your smile healthy. Your diet should contain adequate amounts of vitamins C, protein, calcium, B vitamins and folic acid.

Taking care of your smile will help you get the most out of your cosmetic dentistry in Leeds, and will help ensure the results last as long as possible.