Have you been looking for more incentive to kick your bad habits? Look no further! While the following habits may seem harmless, they could actually be doing serious damage to your teeth and gums. Here are a few patterns that you should try to break as soon as possible.
1. Biting your pen.
Have you ever caught yourself chewing on your pen while you’re bored? Do you use your mouth to hold pens or pencils while you perform tasks with your hands? Turns out, this could be harming your teeth! Many people don’t realize the amount of pressure they apply while doing this harmful habit. The problem is that this can cause your teeth to shift over time. It can even crack your dental enamel or existing dental work!
2. Chewing on ice.
There’s a reason that your blender requires special blades to grind ice. Your teeth are not intended to crush through such hard objects. That’s why habitual ice chewers often end up in the dentists office with gum injuries and damaged dental enamel. Save yourself the dental work and skip the ice cubes for a refreshing alternative.
3. Sipping on soda at your desk.
This may come as a surprise to you, but the amount of sugar you consume is not necessarily what is bad for your teeth—it is the amount of time it takes you to consume it! For example, guzzling a can of soda over lunch is not nearly as harmful as sipping on soda at your desk for a long period of time. Why? The bacteria in plaque take about 20 minutes to consume the sugar in your food and release harmful acids on your dental enamel. Your saliva can help to fight against this damage through a process called remineralization. However, if you continue to sip on soda, the bacteria continues to perform “acid attacks” on your teeth. Over time, your teeth will lose this battle, leading to tooth decay. To help protect your teeth from this process, brush your teeth after every meal to wash away harmful bacteria before it can do any damage!
4. Biting your nails.
Biting your nails may just be a nervous habit, but it can have longterm effects on your oral health. For starters, there are many hygiene reasons why you would not want the germs on your hands to get in your mouth. That said, chewing your nails can also lead to misalignments in your bite, as well as damage to your tooth enamel.
5. Adding lemon to everything.
While lemon may add extra zing to any dish or drink, this acidic fruit can be harmful to your teeth! Acidic foods and beverages can erode your dental enamel, causing tooth decay. It can also make your teeth less pearly white as a result!
6. Brushing too vigorously.
This may come as a surprise, but brushing your teeth too hard can actually do more harm than good. By scraping away at your enamel in such a manner, you can harm your gums, wear away your dental enamel, and even cause oversensitivity. Remember, plaque is quite soft and easy to remove. Therefore, gently scrubbing with a soft-bristled toothbrush will do the trick.
Want to protect your teeth from further damage? Contact Oradent Associates on North Lincoln Avenue today to schedule your routine check-up!