Do You Have These 6 Bad Dental Habits? Quit Them At The Earliest

Practicing good oral health habits will help you achieve and maintain healthy teeth and gums. Keeping your mouth healthy can help protect you from tooth decay and gum disease. On the other hand, certain habits can affect our oral health badly. Here are some of them.

• Nail Biting

Nail biting is one of the most common bad oral habits. The habit is incredibly common in children but can occur in adults as well. While it’s a temporary fix for anxiety or boredom, it can actually be the cause of both jaw pain and tooth damage over time. Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, so it takes a considerable amount of force to crack a tooth through the enamel. However, many people bite their nails with enough force that the teeth can sustain serious damage as a result of the habit.

In addition to causing damage to your teeth, nail biting can also wear down your jaw, cause headaches and neck pain, and contribute to TMJ disorder. If you notice yourself biting your nails frequently, try to break the habit by chewing gum or wearing a stress-relief band instead. You can also ask your dental hygienist about the best treatment options for your damaged teeth. They can recommend ways to restore strength and function to your smile so you can avoid more serious issues down the road.

• Smoking

The habit itself is bad, but smokeless tobacco can be just as harmful in the long run. This includes chewing tobacco and snuff, both of which are awful for our oral health. They can cause oral cancers, gum disease, tooth decay, bad breath, and more! Not to mention, they stain your teeth and cause stains on your clothes, so you’ll have yellow, brown, or black fingers and teeth. Don’t risk these terrible consequences - kick the habit for good! If you need help quitting, you should ask your doctor about smoking cessation aids such as nicotine patches or gum. 

• Aggressive Brushing

We often encourage our patients to brush their teeth for at least two minutes twice a day using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to help remove plaque from teeth and along the gumline, protect the enamel of teeth, and keep patients’ smiles healthy and bright! However, if patients do become aggressive in their cleaning habits or use a hard-bristled brush, they can damage their teeth and gums. So, we recommend brushing your teeth gently using a soft-bristled toothbrush. 

• Teeth Grinding

Bruxism is the fancy term for chronic teeth grinding and clenching that occurs when a person is awake or asleep. It usually occurs while the patient is sleeping at night but can occur during the day as well. Chronic teeth grinding can lead to cracked teeth, sensitivity, toothaches, gum recession, and even tooth loss. To prevent the damage caused by teeth grinding, make sure you visit your dentist and get a night guard to protect your teeth. Keeping your teeth strong and healthy will help to prevent more serious damage in the future.

• Eating Or Chewing Hard Foods

Try to avoid chewing on ice or other hard objects that can put pressure on your teeth and cause breakage. Also, use caution when eating foods that are too hard such as nuts or candies, which could cause breaks as well.

• Not Visiting The Dentist Regularly

Did you know that the American Dental Association recommends professional cleanings at least twice a year? This can help prevent tooth decay and gum disease that can affect your overall health as well. Brushing and flossing alone are not always enough; plaque can build up in places your toothbrush can’t reach. Professional cleaning helps remove this plaque before it can cause issues to your oral health.

If you want to know more about good oral care habits, schedule a consultation with our dentist in Spanish Fork, UT, by calling us at (385) 448-1500 or book your appointment online. We will be happy to guide you further.