Brushing and flossing aren’t the only bad habits that can damage your teeth. We’ve identified the hidden culprits that are the leading causes of tooth decay. Here are several popular habits that can be bad for your teeth, ranging from drinking sugary drinks to eating on ice creams.
Nail Biting
Nail-biting is one of the most daunting behaviors to break. Nail-biting may appear to be harmless, as you are just damaging your nails. However, biting the nails can lead to chipped teeth and jaw problems. There are various ways to break this habit, including bitter-tasting nail polishes that cover your nails and taste awful if you bite them.
Nail-biting can be a reflex or something you do when you’re nervous or depressed. Consult the doctor or do a fast Google search. There are several ways to keep your mind occupied.
Brushing Too Hard
Brushing twice a day is more than just a guideline from dentists; it’s needed for optimal oral health. However, brushing so vigorously will undo all of your hard work. It has the potential to damage your teeth in the long run. As a result, bad habits will irritate your gums and cause tooth loss.
Brushing your teeth should be thought of like a massage for your teeth instead of a scrub.
Grinding & Clenching
Teeth grinding (bruxism) can cause significant tooth wear over time. Stress, anxiety, and poor sleeping habits are the most common causes of it. People also do not realize they are doing so, making it much more challenging to manage. Wearing a mouthguard at night will help protect the teeth from the effects of grinding.
Eating On Ice Cubes
Many people believe that ice is just as safe as water. Isn’t it healthy that it’s sugar-free and hydrates you? Biting down on hard ice cubes, on the other hand, will chip or even break your teeth.
If you eat ice cubes daily, it will irritate the soft tissues between your mouth, resulting in toothaches. Foods that are too hot or too cold will cause sharp pains in your teeth. People with sensitive teeth are more likely to experience it. Replace the ice habit with sugar-free chewing gum.
Using Your Teeth As Tools
While it is easy to open objects with your teeth, such as packaging or bottle caps, this is a mistake that can do serious harm to your teeth. They can crack or chip as a result. Keep scissors, or a means to open items other than your teeth on hand. Your teeth aim to chew food, not to act as a can opener for your body.
Playing Sports Without A Mouth Guard
This one is a little self-evident. Mouthguards are intended to shield the teeth. It is better to use a mouthguard while playing any outdoor sport. If you are playing without it, you can damage your teeth.
Bedtime Bottles
Many parents forget this, particularly if their child has not yet begun teething, but it is never too early to start protecting the teeth. Giving a baby a juice or milk bottle, as a bedtime bottle, can lead to tooth decay. This is because the baby’s mouth soaks up all of the carbohydrates in the drink overnight. It’s normally best to stick to water in bottles.
Tongue Piercings
Tongue piercings are fashionable and appealing, but the metal in the mouth constantly serves as a breeding ground for bacteria, increasing the likelihood of infections and sores. People who have these piercings are often prone to playing with them in their mouths. That can cause significant damage to your teeth, leading to a broken tooth.
Fizzy Drinks
Tooth loss is caused by a variety of factors, not just sweets. Certain soft drinks can contain up to eleven teaspoons of sugar per serving. People normally use the diet or sugar-free varieties of these drinks to lose weight and reduce their sugar consumption. They don’t tell you that, after skipping all the sugar, sweeteners can contain even more acid. You can save these drinks for a particular day.
These are some of the most common habits that can ruin your teeth. If you happen to face any dental emergencies, head over to an emergency dentist in Stockport.
