The Worst Dental Habits that are Damaging Your Teeth

How much do your daily decisions affect your teeth and gums health? Many people are unaware of how little things they do every day might cause long-term dental problems. Tooth decay and gum disease are unavoidable without proper treatment. But if you want to keep your smile safe, you can change your dental habits at any time.

Your dentist can help you understand more about the common habits that might be hurting your teeth. Here are a few things that you should keep in mind:

Eating and Drinking Habits

Everything that you put in your mouth can either help or hurt the quality of your teeth. Bad eating habits can lead to tooth discoloration, cracks, weakened tooth structure, and more.

Never hold a bobby pin in your mouth or tear open plastic bags with your teeth. Crunching on hard objects like ice or hard candy is also hazardous for you. Remember that your teeth are only meant to be used for eating; you shouldn’t use them for anything else.

Think about how eating sugary meals affects the condition of your teeth as well. Sugar causes the bacteria that cause tooth decay to form when it comes into contact with the teeth’s surface. Avoid munching on candies or fruit pits all day. Don’t drink soda all day long. If you decide to consume refined sugar, it is preferable to savor the meal and then brush your teeth afterward.

Coffee and other dark-colored drinks can also affect the color of your teeth. These liquids stain the surface of the teeth, causing your smile to look yellow.

Other Daily Habits

It is crucial that you are caring for your teeth with the appropriate dental tools. Your oral health will be impacted, for instance, by the quality of your toothbrush. Because stiff bristles might harm gums, pick a toothbrush with gentle bristles. Be careful when brushing the teeth, and make sure to cover all of the tooth surfaces.

Be careful if you have nervous habits that affect the teeth. Chewing on toothpicks, pencils, or fingernails can damage teeth over time. If you grind your teeth during the day or night, then it is important that you talk to your dentist about treatments to relax the jaw.

At Dental Group of Bloomingdale, we are working hard to educate our patients about good dental habits. Call us anytime if you have questions about your dental health.