Save Your Teeth And Ditch These Bad Dental Habits
It’s never too late fro self improvement. For most of us, when we think of self improvement, we often think of changes to our diet and exercise. However, don’t forget about changes you could make to improve your oral health as well. Making a few simple lifestyle changes could help you avoid bad dental habits, improve your smile and overall confidence.
What Are Considered Bad Dental Habits?
Stop Chewing On Ice
It’s pretty common to chew on a piece of ice while enjoying a cold beverage. It may seem like no big deal…ice is just frozen water, after all! However, ice is stronger than we think and crushing a hard substance like this can produce significant damage to your teeth. Chipping and cracking is a common consequence of chewing on ice. All it takes is one break to your molar to cause intense pain, where an emergency visit to the dentist is needed.
Biting Your Nails
Nail biting is a nervous habit we often don’t think too much about. This habit can be harmfu; for a number of reasons though. Nail biting creates an ideal opportunity to spread harmful germs into your mouth, not to mention puts your teeth at risk to be chipped. If you are a chronic nail biter, putting pressure on your biting teeth can cause your teeth to shift out of place. This pressure has also been known to contribute to TMJ problems in the jaw.
If this is a habit you would like to eliminate, consider using a clear bitter tasting nail polish, which will help you avoid placing your fingers in the mouth. For those serious about self improvement, it can be worth it to spend some extra effort to take care of your nails and appearance. investing in regular manicures is a great way to ensure you stay committed to your appearance.
Avoid Vigorous Brushing
Brushing your teeth twice daily is a key routine to adopt in order to maintain healthy teeth and gums. However, it is important to remember to brush with the proper techinique as well. Scrubbing your teeth hard is not better. Brushing too hard can wear down the enamel of the tooth and leave your teeth susceptible to decay and disease. Vigorous brushing can also cause your gums to recede, which is not only painful, but can contribute to bone damage and tooth loss.
Consider instead investing in a soft bristled toothbrush to keep the enamel of your teeth white and bright. Try not to scrub your teeth, but instead massage them gently in circles. This approach will help remove plaque and germs without damaging the surface of the tooth.
Don’t Use Your Teeth As Tools
Contrary to how many of us behave, your teeth are not tools. They are meant for chewing food, smiling and speaking. They are not to be used for opening bottles or tearing open packages. Using your teeth for any of these types of purposes, can cause severe tooth damage and injury to your jaw. While it may seem easier in the moment to use our teeth to open a package rather then go get a pair of scissors, the risk simply is not worth it.
Whether its a bottle opener or scissors, consider finding the proper tool to perform the task at hand. It will not only do better job, but it will keep your pearly whites safe from damage.
Snacking Too Much
Constantly eating throughout the day is not good for our teeth, especially if many of those snacks inbetween meals are high in sugar. Frequent eating leaves more food particles on your teeth. The more food particles there are, the more likely you will be to devlop cavities, as bacteria eat the particles and excrete an acid which dissolves the enamel on your teeth.
A low sugar balanced meal can help you feel fuller for longer and gives your teeth a rest inbetween meals. Of course, it is ok to have the occasional sugary treat. Just make sure to drink plenty of water afterwards in order to wash away food particles.
Avoid Teeth Grinding
Grinding your teeth can cause your teeth to chip, break and wear down excessively. This is one of the worst of the bad dental habits since it not only damages teeth quickly, but can also rapidly bring on TMJ and jaw problems. For some, teeth grinding at night, or bruxism, is a problem that is difficult to pinpoint. However, if you are waking up with a sore jaw or experiencing frequent tension headaches, this may be an issue you are experiencing.
If you suspect you may be grinding your teeth at night, make an appointment. A customized mouth guard developed by our office can help protect your teeth from damage. We can also work with you to treat your bruxism, which is often brought on by sleep apnea issues.
If You Have Concerns About Damage To Your Teeth, Talk To Us About Any Possible Bad Dental Habits
Here at The Dental and Denture Care Center in Spring Hill, FL, we can work with you to help you establish healthy dental habits in order to maintain the best possible smile. Whether you are in need of a restorative dental procedure or are coming in for a routine cleaning, we offer all the dental services you need to maintain optimal oral health. Call us today at (352) 848-1050 or contact us on our website here to schedule your next appointment.
