The first of the year is nearly here, and it’s a great time to start looking at new ways to improve yourself and your smile. Our Lincroft NJ dental office is using state-of-the-art technology and a talented team to offer you the dental care you need.

Having served the Lincroft NJ community for the last several decades, we have seen our fair share of dental problems. We offer services like restorative dentistry and even dental implants to restore a person’s mouth. But there is also much a patient can do to reduce their risk of dental problems. Today we want to highlight several common dental mistakes people are making. You might be surprised to see the importance of at-home care.

Ignoring Dental Pain

Often patients have sharp or dull pains in their gums or teeth and try to ignore the problem. This is a major oversight. To put it simply, your teeth shouldn’t hurt. If you have dental pain, something is wrong. That’s not to say the problem is major, but something isn’t right. Dental pain can be signs of tooth decay, gum disease, or even other issues like poor tooth or jaw alignment.

In the case of decay or infection, you’ll need a dentist to intervene. Infections in the mouth will not go away on their own. You’ll need a dentist to remove the infection and to keep your mouth healthy and functional.

Skipping Routine Visits

We dentists recommend that you visit the dentist about once every six months. If you’re struggling with gum disease, we recommend that you visit the dentist about once every three to four months for maintenance. During these visits, we’ll clean the teeth but also check the teeth and gums for signs of abnormalities. If you’re skipping dental visits, it’s easy to miss dental problems. Small amounts of tooth decay can easily evolve into large issues.

So, if you’re thinking about skipping dental visits, think about what you might be risking. You’re risking your oral and overall health. Fixing major dental problems is always more expensive than addressing little problems as they arise.

Improper Brushing or Flossing

The American Dental Association recommends that you brush your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes at a time. You also need to use floss at least once a day. A recent poll published by the American Dental Association found that seven out of 10 Americans brush their teeth twice a day, and that same poll found that only 4 out of 10 Americans regularly floss their teeth. So, less than half of the country regularly flosses. It might be no surprise then that about 50 percent of adults have gum disease, which is the leading cause of tooth loss. Gum disease is also related to problems like diabetes or even heart disease.

Our hygienists can walk you through best brushing and flossing practices to make sure you’re practicing great oral hygiene at home. We’d love to meet you and your family to provide great oral care. Give us a call today at 732-352-3903 to schedule your visits and meet the dental team.