We all know that brushing our teeth and flossing regularly is essential for maintaining good dental health. But did you know that certain habits may be damaging your teeth without you even realizing it? In this blog, we will discuss the seven habits that could be ruining your teeth, so that you can be more mindful of how your everyday activities might be impacting your dental health.
Chewing on hard objects like pencils or pens can not only chip away at tooth enamel, but it can also cause gum recession and damage to the jawbone. Chewing on hard objects is especially harmful when done with braces, as the brackets can become loose or even break off. The best thing to do if you feel the urge to chew something is to reach for a piece of sugar-free gum instead.
Carbonated beverages are loaded with sugar, which can lead to cavities if consumed in excess. Additionally, most carbonated drinks contain acid which erodes tooth enamel over time and makes them more vulnerable to decay and discoloration. If you must indulge in a carbonated beverage, it's best to drink it through a straw or rinse your mouth out with water afterwards.
Teeth grinding (also known as bruxism) happens during sleep and can put significant strain on your teeth and jaw joints if left untreated. Grinding your teeth can cause sensitivity, jaw pain, soreness in the facial muscles, headaches, and even damage to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). If you think you might be grinding your teeth in your sleep, consult a dentist about getting fitted for a night guard.
Using our teeth as tools—such as opening lids or ripping plastic packaging—is incredibly common but one of the worst things we can do for our dental health! Using our teeth as tools put pressure on them that they were not designed to handle and can weaken the enamel and cause chips or cracks in the tooth itself. Instead of using our teeth as tools, try using scissors or pliers instead!
Maintaining good dental hygiene is essential for preventing cavities and maintaining healthy gums and teeth. Being aware of these common habits that could be damaging our dental health is an important step towards keeping our mouths healthy for years to come! Always brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, floss daily after meals, visit your dentist regularly for checkups —and watch out for these seven bad habits! By doing so you'll have healthier-looking smiles for years ahead!
These include smoking, drinking sugary drinks, eating sugary and acidic foods, not brushing your teeth twice a day, skipping regular dental checkups, grinding your teeth and using your teeth as tools.
To protect your teeth, you should quit smoking, limit your consumption of sugary and acidic drinks and foods, brush regularly twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, visit your dentist for regular checkups, use a nighttime mouthguard if you grind your teeth at night and avoid using your teeth as tools.
The consequences of these bad habits can be severe and can include an increased risk for tooth decay, cavities and gum disease, and enamel wear and tear. In addition to these oral health issues, there is also an increased risk for systemic health problems associated with some of these habits such as smoking or drinking too many sugar-containing beverages.