Looking after your teeth isn’t only about what happens at the dentist, it’s the small everyday habits that make the biggest difference over a lifetime. Some protect your smile, others quietly damage it without you realising. Here are the simple dos and don’ts our Hampstead team share with patients to keep teeth and gums healthy for years to come.
Never use your teeth as a tool. Don’t open bottles, tear packaging or use your teeth as a can opener, and avoid chewing pens, ice or popcorn kernels — all of them chip and crack teeth. Biting your nails damages the nail and spreads germs, too.
Before your appointment. Please arrive having brushed and flossed, and avoid garlic or smoking beforehand — our team will thank you.
Protect the little ones. Never let a child fall asleep with a bottle of milk, formula or juice; it is a leading cause of early childhood decay.
Habits worth breaking.
- Thumb-sucking, at any age.
- Tobacco in any form — it stains and weakens teeth and raises the risk of gum disease and oral cancer.
- Skipping brushing and flossing before bed, which lets plaque build overnight.
- Unregulated whitening products, which can harm your teeth and often don’t work.
- Sharing a toothbrush — never.
Small choices that matter.
- Choose sugar-free gum sweetened with xylitol over sugary sweets and lollipops.
- Avoid harshly abrasive toothpastes, which wear enamel over time.
- Wear your retainer after orthodontic treatment, or your teeth will drift back.
- Be wary of unusually cheap dentistry, and never buy metal tooth scrapers online — they damage enamel and gums.
- Think carefully before a tongue piercing: it can cause chipped teeth, infection, swelling, nerve damage and more.
Concerned about any of these? Book an examination with our Hampstead team.
