Do You Have These 8 Bad Dental Habits?

Most people do not pay a lot of attention to their teeth – until there is a problem. The problem may become evident through bleeding gums, a toothache, a chipped tooth, or discoloration. The problems that can cause the dental issues are often preventable, like bad habits. Some habits that you want to avoid for better dental health include the following.

Eating Ice

A common habit that many people engage in is chewing ice. This is bad for your teeth because ice is hard and it can lead to cracked teeth. 

Nail Biting

Nails are also hard, and biting your nails can lead to cracked teeth. The American Dental Association says that it can also lead to some jaw dysfunction because when biting your nails, it keeps your jaw in an extended position. 

Playing Sports Without a Mouth Guard

Sports can be rough enough even when you are wearing a mouth guard. Not wearing one in a sport where hard objects, such as a baseball, football, hockey puck, etc., are flying in the air is a good way to lose a tooth, a filling, or chip one. Of course, getting tackled can also inflict dental pain. Mouth guards are easily purchased and can protect your teeth from a lot of problems, or your dentist can make one to custom fit your mouth and teeth. 

Pierced Tongues

This popular trend can lead to a number of oral health problems. In addition to accidently biting down on it and cracking a tooth, you can also develop an infection. Your gums may also be damaged by it, which could lead to the loss of teeth.

Drinking Soda

As far as taking care of your teeth is concerned, drinking soda is one of the worst things you can do. Sodas are heavily laden with sugar, some containing as much as nine teaspoons in a single can. 

The sugar in soda is bad for teeth because they cause the bad bacteria in your mouth to multiply. When they do, they will produce acids which will cause tooth enamel erosion and promote tooth decay. 

Sodas are acidic beverages that contain two acids that will harm your teeth’s enamel – phosphoric and citric acid. A diet soft drink may not contain the sugar, but the acids in it are stronger than what is found in a regular soda. 

Lemons and other citric fruits also contain a lot of acids. Although there are valuable vitamins in them, you should limit how much you drink. Constantly keeping acid in your mouth is very harmful to your teeth. 

Eating Junk Food Snacks

Eating snacks that are laden with sugar is going to lead to cavities. Eating them throughout the day is even worse, because this means that there is a constant stream of sugar in your mouth promoting bacterial growth. This will lead to bad breath – as well as bad teeth. 

Substituting junk food snacks for healthy ones is a better option that can help to promote strong teeth and better health. Eating a Mediterranean diet has been found to promote good dental health, besides having many other good health benefits. It basically consists of eating more fruits and vegetables, along with nuts, fish, and less red meat. 

Smoking & Alcohol

Using tobacco in any form is also bad for your teeth – and for almost everything else in your body, too. It can give you problems such as bleeding gums, a sore throat and gums, stained teeth, and may even lead to oral cancer. Treating dental problems is made more difficult, because healing takes longer. 

Alcohol can cause a number of dental problems that will damage your teeth. Whether it is beer or wine, etc., alcohol is acidic and can increase the damage caused by the bacteria in your mouth. Research has shown that as many as 70 percent of people with oral cancer drank alcohol heavily. When you also smoke, it increases the likelihood of getting this disease. Alcoholic beverages, like tea and coffee, will stain your teeth.

Ignoring Brushing and Flossing

The best thing you can do for your teeth, besides ignoring bad habits that may hurt them, is to brush and floss daily. It will help you keep your smile beautiful, and will be much cheaper than having to replace teeth at the dentist’s office. 

Teeth should be brushed at least twice a day, and flossed one a day. This will help to remove food particles where bacteria can hide and grow – and produce enamel-destroying acids. 

Drinking water shortly after eating or drinking sweet drinks or foods will help reduce the sugar and acids in your mouth. Doing so will also keep the bacteria levels down. It will also help to cut down the likelihood of developing stained teeth.

If you want to enable your teeth to stay healthy and live longer, it is necessary to stop harmful habits. If your teeth are already damaged and less than beautiful, you can have them repaired and restored to look beautiful again