Breaking Bad Oral Habits and Embracing Wellness After LANAP
Following your successful LANAP laser gum therapy procedure, you're committed to optimal healing and long-term oral health. But bad oral habits can linger, potentially hindering your progress. Here's how you can break free from these habits and embrace a healthier smile post-LANAP:
Identifying Bad Habits:
- Infrequent brushing and flossing: Not brushing twice daily and flossing once daily allows plaque and bacteria to accumulate, leading to problems.
- Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption: These habits irritate gums and slow down healing.
- Poor diet: Consuming sugary foods and drinks contributes to plaque buildup and weakens tooth enamel.
- Nail-biting and pencil chewing: These habits can damage teeth and gums.
- Using harsh toothbrushes and toothpaste: Harsh bristles and abrasive toothpaste can irritate sensitive gums after LANAP.
Breaking the Cycle:
- Focus on good habits: Replace bad habits with positive ones like brushing after meals, flossing daily, and using a soft-bristled toothbrush with fluoride toothpaste.
- Set reminders: Use alarms, sticky notes, or phone apps to ensure you follow your new routine.
- Reward yourself: Celebrate milestones and progress with small rewards to keep yourself motivated.
- Seek support: Talk to your dentist or dental hygienist for personalized advice and encouragement.
Embrace a Healthy Diet:
- Limit sugary foods and drinks: Opt for water, fruits, and vegetables instead.
- Increase calcium intake: Choose dairy products, leafy greens, and calcium-fortified foods.
- Maintain a balanced diet: Ensure sufficient intake of vitamins and minerals for optimal oral health.
Additional Tips for Post-LANAP Recovery:
- Rinse with lukewarm salt water: This helps soothe gums and promote healing.
- Use a Waterpik gently: Floss after one week to remove plaque and food debris.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol for at least two weeks: This allows for optimal healing.
- Maintain regular dental checkups: Stay proactive with your oral health by scheduling regular dental appointments.
The effects of bad oral habits
The effects of bad oral habits are something our team sees all too often. You might have bad oral habits that stem from childhood, possibly because your parents did not know about proper oral care or force you to follow it. Or, your bad habits could develop gradually, like slacking on your frequency of brushing.
Bad oral habits can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, and consequences such as losing teeth and experiencing bad pain. They may be deeply ingrained and easy to continue, but you can break them with a little effort. Focus on developing good habits to replace your current ones, and eating a diet that is healthy for your teeth.
Replace Bad Habits with Good
Breaking your bad oral habits may not be as difficult as you expect when you focus instead on developing good habits. These new good habits can naturally replace your bad habits.
- Brush your teeth after each meal or at least twice a day.
- Visit a dentist every six months for an exam and a professional cleaning.
- Floss your teeth every day.
These good habits may not seem natural, so you can take steps to make sure you follow these behaviors. For example, make a daily checklist with your scheduled sessions of brushing and flossing your teeth and using mouthwash. You can also set a timer to be sure you brush your teeth for the full recommended two minutes.
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Eat Properly
Poor eating habits can be detrimental to your teeth. A common mistake is to let food, especially carbohydrates such as starch and sugar, stay on your teeth for a long time. You can stop doing this by rinsing your mouth with water after each meal or snack. Also, avoid candy and soft drinks between meals, since the sugar sits on your teeth.
A healthy diet provides the nutrients you need to maintain strong teeth. The mineral calcium is key for healthy teeth, so try to get your three daily servings of high-calcium foods, such as low-fat milk or yogurt, canned fish, or fortified soy or almond milk. Also include vegetables and fruits, which have a high water content.
If you need more tips about breaking your bad oral health habits, contact our Fort Lauderdale, Florida office and speak with the doctor or a member of our team.
