Do You Have These 5 Bad Dental Habits? Quit Them At The Earliest

Good oral health is essential for overall well-being. Habits like smoking, teeth grinding, chewing ice, nail-biting, using teeth as tools, and aggressive brushing can seriously damage oral health. Listed below are some bad habits that can harm oral health.

• Smoking

Patients who smoke or chew tobacco cigarettes run a greater risk of oral health issues than non-smokers. Tobacco use affects every part of the mouth and body. It can cause bad breath, gum disease, oral cancer, tooth loss, tooth decay, and other serious health conditions. Quitting tobacco is one of the best things you can do for your body! Ask our dentists about tobacco use treatment options today.

• Teeth Grinding or Clenching

Teeth grinding and clenching often occur due to stress, anxiety, or just a bad habit developed over the years. You may not even realize that you do it until your dentist tells you at your appointment! In some cases, you may not notice the damage until you experience some symptoms like headaches, tooth pain, and a sore jaw.

If you do grind your teeth at night, it’s very important to wear a mouth guard while you sleep to prevent excessive wear from grinding down the enamel of your teeth. If you wear a mouthguard, make sure to wear one that fits properly so that it’s comfortable enough for you to wear every night!

• Chewing Ice

When we’re in need of a quick pick-me-up or are trying to cool down during a hot day, we may reach for another bag of ice chips. However, while ice may satisfy our oral cravings, it’s terrible for our teeth!

The cold temperature of an ice cube can cause our teeth to contract and expand very quickly, causing cracks in our enamel. In severe cases, this can lead to a broken tooth. This is because of ice’s hard texture, which can easily wear down our natural teeth.

• Nail Biting

This is a bad habit many people don’t realize is a bad one. It may not seem like a big deal to nibble on your nails when you’re bored or nervous, but it can cause all kinds of problems for your teeth and oral health. The most common problem is chipped or broken front teeth. Your enamel is much softer than metal and will chip or break easily if you bite down on it. The force of the bite can be enough to crack a tooth. You could also end up needing a root canal because of damage from nail biting. You could need a crown to correct any cosmetic issues that come from this habit as well. Bottom line? Nail biting is bad for you in a number of ways. Try to find other ways to entertain yourself when you feel the urge to put your fingers in your mouth. You can also talk to your dentist about ways to protect your teeth and stop biting your nails. 

• Using Teeth as Tools

If you’ve ever used your teeth to open bottles or packaging, you’re not alone! In fact, many people do this occasionally without even realizing it. But it’s important to be aware that this is a dangerous habit that can actually lead to permanent tooth damage. When teeth are used as a tool in this way, they sustain a substantial amount of force that can crack or even break the tooth. This creates a small fracture in the enamel and dentin layers of the teeth, which can allow bacteria to leak into the inner chamber of the tooth where the nerve is housed. This can cause severe infections and even tooth loss in some cases.

In addition to causing damage to your teeth, using teeth as tools can also result in gum recession. Opening packages with your teeth can result in gums being scraped away from the base of your teeth; over time, this can lead to receding gums and a “gummy” smile.

If you find you’re opening packages often or using your teeth as a cutting tool regularly, stop doing it and use appropriate tools instead. 

• Aggressive Brushing

While tooth brushing is critical for good oral hygiene, it must be done gently to avoid damaging teeth and gums. Some people brush too hard, and this can lead to gum recession, sensitive teeth, and even enamel wear over time. The damage is usually quite gradual and may not be noticeable at first. It is important to use a soft-bristled toothbrush, change your toothbrush regularly, and try to limit your brushing time to two minutes or less. 

At M.Hirota, DMD, we provide instructions on taking care of oral health. Visit us at 135 Civic Center Dr #102, National City, CA 91950. Contact us at (619) 474-4695 or visit our website for more information.