This article, part 4 of 5, explores the top bad habits that could be wrecking your tooth enamel

and increasing your vulnerability to tooth decay and gum disease. In the previous three articles, this dual-degreed implant dentist in Chicago Loop discussed the top bad habits and lifestyle choices that could be ruining the quality and longevity of your smile, while leaving you more vulnerable to oral bacterial infection and disease. Tobacco use, lack of flossing, diets high in carbonated sugary drinks, excessive coffee intake and brushing immediately after meals were all explored by this implant dentist in Chicago Loop. In this article, the fourth installment of a five-part series, we shall be exploring another three bad habits that the future of your teeth and gums would definitely be better off without! Implant Dentist in Chicago Advises: Bad Habit # 9 ~ Avoiding Those Bi-Annual Check-Ups

A check-up with your dentist every six months is a crucial part of the preventative care that will keep your teeth and gums healthy! This implant dentist in Chicago Loop sees it over and over again on a daily basis: the results of a life lived indulgently without proper oral healthcare and hygiene is tooth decay, discoloration, bacterial infection, periodontal (gum) disease and tooth loss. Problems that could quiet easily be diagnosed and treated at an early stage are left to get worse, until the

only solution lies in the hands of this implant dentist in Chicago Loop. There is no harder and more expensive lesson learned than tooth loss, says this dual-degreed implant dentist in Chicago Loop. With regular check-ups and professional cleanings, patients can avoid the need for expensive, invasive and painful procedures to correct problems further down the line; problems that in any case cause irreparable damage to bite functionality, smile aesthetics and overall oral health.

Implant Dentist in Chicago Loop: Bad Habit # 10 ~ Tooth Grinding Tooth grinding or Bruxism is frequently a result of stress, both physical and emotional (think of how you grit or grind your teeth when lifting something heavy or are angry and frustrated). Many patients frequently clench their jaws and grind their teeth in their sleep, says this implant dentist in Chicago Loop, so it’s hard to stop something they are unaware of doing. While a patient can live with Bruxism for years, the impact this bad habit has upon the teeth are quite catastrophic. In some cases, patients have completely abraded away the enamel of the teeth, leaving nothing but discolored stumps behind, explains this implant dentist in Chicago. Tooth fractures and decay are also results of advanced grinding. The immediate solution is a mouthguard or retainer that can be worn at night. The long term solution may lie in combating the source of stress Implant Dentist in Chicago Loop: Bad Habit # 11 ~ Getting a Tongue Piercing Most people who opt to get a tongue or lip piercing are completely oblivious to the risk these facial accessories pose to one’s teeth and gums. However, this implant dentist in Chicago Loop cautions, stainless steel piercings in the tongue continuously bang against the back of the teeth (because that’s how we articulate in speech). This can actually cause tooth fractures necessitating the placement of restorations, such as dental implants and crowns. With lip piercings, the back component of the jewelry can push on and rub against the gums. The fact that people with piercings find it impossible to stop playing with them drastically worsens the damage they do to the gums and tooth enamel. Ask your dentist whether your piercings are doing any harm, advises this dual-degreed implant dentist in Chicago Loop. If they are, take them out immediately. Stay tuned for our final installment, part 5 of 5, on the Top Bad Habits that could be wrecking your teeth and ruining your smile…