Many of us were taught as children to avoid doing certain things with our teeth to preserve dental health, and it did work for a short period. When we become older, many of us not only began to do those things that we were taught to avoid but even made them a habit. Those practices, if done regularly, have the potential to cause significant harm to your teeth and gums.
Keep reading to discover some of the worst habits that you are probably practicing daily. Avoid them to promote your dental health and prevent serious dental problems.
1. Smoking or chewing tobacco
Smoking and chewing tobacco products aren’t only bad for your overall health, but they also put you at risk for a variety of dental issues. Smoking can cause teeth discoloration, gum disease, and tooth pain. Over time, smoking can lead to tooth loss. It can decrease saliva production, causing bad breath and tooth damage. Moreover, tobacco use is the leading cause of oral cancer.
2. Biting nails
Let's be honest: you're probably biting your nails right now as you read this. It's all right because many of us are doing this. There are a lot of bacteria under your nails, and having a small laceration in your mouth, and putting your fingers in it might not only make you nauseous but could also trigger an infection and lead to periodontal disease. To prevent serious dental problems, avoid biting your nails.
3. Drinking acidic drinks
For most people, a glass of wine or orange juice every now and then is completely acceptable. Many of those beverages, in fact, offer certain health advantages. Too many of these acidic beverages, on the other hand, can cause major dental problems. Acidic beverages might damage your teeth' enamel and lead to tooth decay.
4. Practicing poor dental hygiene
Practicing poor dental hygiene is probably the worst thing you can do for your dental health. This can lead to serious dental problems like gum disease and tooth decay. Over time, this can result in tooth loss. To ensure dental health, dentists advise cleaning teeth twice a day for two minutes each time, flossing, and using mouthwash. Chewing sugar-free gum after meals and snacks, in addition to brushing, helps preserve teeth and supports good dental health.
5. Playing sports without a mouthguard
Wearing a mouthguard is always recommended, whether you play in a real team or with a few buddies at the park. The reasoning behind this is because it just takes a small amount of force to knock out a tooth or cut your gums. Wearing a mouthguard when playing a full-contact activity like basketball or football may help to protect your teeth and preserve dental health.
6. Teeth grinding
Most people clench and grind their teeth regularly. Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, normally isn't harmful, but when it occurs regularly, it can lead to teeth damage and serious dental problems. Chronic tooth grinding can cause fracture, loosening, or loss of teeth. Teeth can be worn down to stumps as a result of constant grinding. Bridges, crowns, root canals, implants, partial dentures, and even complete dentures may be required when these complications occur.
7. Brushing too hard
Brushing twice a day is more than just a tip from dentists. It's required for optimal dental health. However, brushing too hard might undo all of your hard work. It has the potential to harm your teeth in the long run. As a result, this unhealthy behavior can irritate your gums and cause tooth damage. Brushing your teeth should be more like a massage for your teeth rather than a scrape.
