Some habits can seem harmless but can do serious dental damage. A Scottsdale family dentist can point out such habits to help your family stop them and keep your teeth healthy. Your awareness of such habits allows you to correct them to protect your teeth from damage. The following are habits that can be harmful to your teeth:
Chewing Ice
A lot of people chew ice to relieve their thirst and deal with the heat. But for others, this is a habit that they practice after they finish off a drink. Initially, this can seem harmless because ice is just frozen water. But ice is hard, so it can damage your teeth. Chewing ice can create small cracks in your tooth enamel. Keep in mind that blenders must be equipped with special blades to be able to crush ice. This shows how hard ice can be.
Opening Packages and Bottles Using Your Teeth
Some people use their teeth to open bottles and rip open packages. But your teeth are supposed to be used to chew food. Using them for other functions can crack and chip their enamel. Do not use your teeth as your instant tool whenever you need one. Rather, keep your tools around. The majority of pocketknives have extra features such as bottle openers that you can use.
Chewing on Pencils
If you are like other people, chewing on a pencil may help you think. But you should kick out this habit immediately since this can put pressure on the teeth, causing them to wear down in the long run. Also, there may be germs and dirt on your pencil that can lead to infections. A lot of people practice this habit to deal with stress and nerves. But there are healthier outlets you can switch to preserve the integrity of your teeth.
Consuming Too Much Soda
Drinking soda regularly can be hard on your teeth. It bathes your teeth in sugar, encouraging the growth of bacteria and tooth decay. Also, soda is highly acidic and can wear down your enamel. Reduce soda consumption and focus on drinking more water to keep your strength strong. When you consume soda, consume some water right to wash away the sugar from your teeth.
Grinding Your Teeth
Clenching the jaw too tightly can lead to different issues, particularly over time. Grinding your teeth can put pressure on the teeth and wear down their enamel. Also, it can impact your jaws, disrupting how you eat and speak. Sometimes, this can occur while you sleep, which makes it important to visit a dentist who can address the issue right away. Also, teeth grinding can happen due to stress. Relaxation activities such as yoga and meditation can help you relax and release face and jaw tension.
Biting the Fingernails
Fingernail biting can be a habit or a way to cope with stress. But the pressure from chewing your fingernails can loosen your teeth. Also, your hard fingernails can cause tiny enamel cracks. Fingernails have lots of dirt underneath them. Thus, biting them exposes your mouth to harmful bacteria. Stop this habit right away to avoid complications.
Smoking
Smoking has been known to put you at risk of heart disease and lung cancer. But it can also have negative effects on your oral health. Tobacco will dry your mouth, which creates a favorable condition for bacteria. Consuming lots of water after you smoke to counteract your mouth’s dryness and keep it moisturized.
Not Using a Mouthguard
When you play contact sports, wear a piece of protective equipment like a mouthguard. This equipment can protect your teeth from possible hits. Your teeth can be knocked out whenever you play high-impact sports, which makes it necessary to wear a mouthguard.