Six Bad Habits That Can Damage Your Oral Health

Good oral habits are very important for a healthy mouth. Habits such as excessive brushing or flossing, using teeth to open things, and chewing on ice and fingernails can cause damage to teeth. Listed below are some common bad habits that can have a negative effect on your oral health.

Using Teeth As Tools

Many people use their teeth as tools without even realizing it! From ripping open packages to opening bottles and bags, many people rely on their front teeth to get the work done.

Unfortunately, this can lead to chips in teeth or cracks and fractures that may require restorative treatment to repair. Additionally, if you use your teeth to open a package with your teeth, you'll likely cause damage to the soft tissue inside the tooth as a result. This can lead to pain when biting down, sensitivity to hot and cold foods/beverages, and even toothaches.

The next time you need to open a package, consider using a pair of scissors instead. 

Chewing Ice Cubes

Ice cubes are incredibly refreshing and a great way to cool down after a meal or beverage. However, ice isn't exactly healthy for your teeth. When you chew on hard substances like ice cubes, it puts a lot of pressure on your enamel and can cause cracks and chips. If you regularly chew on ice, this can lead to more severe damage, like broken teeth or loose fillings.

An easy solution is to sip your beverages rather than chew on the ice. This will still give you the same cold sensation without damaging your teeth.

Frequent Snacking

When we frequently snack throughout the day, it's usually not because we're hungry; it's because we are bored or under stress at work or home. Unfortunately, frequent snacking can increase the amount of acid in the mouth and can cause tooth decay or cavities in your teeth. Try to avoid eating sugary snacks in between meals. If you really need something sweet to snack on, choose something like a raw carrot or apple slice instead of candy or cookies. If you feel stressed during the day, try taking a short walk or going to the gym to help lower stress levels.

Thumb Sucking

Thumb sucking is a natural reflex that infants use to soothe themselves. For adults, thumb-sucking is a bad habit and can cause an overbite or open bite. This bad habit can also lead to crooked teeth or a misalignment of the jaw. If you find yourself with any of these symptoms, talk to your dentist about treatment options that can help you kick this habit for good!

Overgrown upper teeth and/or underbites can result if the child doesn't break the habit of thumb-sucking by the age of four. Children who continue the behavior into their adult years can develop the temporomandibular joint disorder, TMD. This can be painful as well as damaging to the oral health of a person. 

Teeth Grinding

Many people grind their teeth at night or while sleeping without even realizing it. Bruxism is the fancy word for grinding your teeth and clenching your jaw. It's typically caused by stress, and it can actually wear down your teeth and cause some serious problems with your oral health.

If you have bruxism, your dentist may recommend you wear a night guard while you sleep. This will protect your teeth from the damage that's being done during the day when you can't control it. Just remember that using a night guard doesn't cure the condition itself. You need to figure out ways to manage your stress in order to stop harmful habits like teeth grinding.

You can also ask your doctor about muscle relaxants or other prescription drugs that can help reduce your stress levels. 

Brushing Too Hard

While brushing your teeth is an important aspect of keeping them clean and healthy, it is possible to brush your teeth too hard. This can cause some serious issues for your oral health. Here is what you need to know about not brushing your teeth hard enough and what it can do to your precious smile.

If you brush too hard, you could actually wear down your enamel. Enamel is the outer layer of your tooth that protects it from the acids in your mouth that can cause tooth decay. When you brush too hard, you are exposing the sensitive layer of dentin that is located right under your tooth's enamel. Over time, this can wear away the enamel and lead to serious teeth sensitivity. This can lead to huge oral health problems if left untreated.

Call us at (773) 880 5080 to book an appointment with us. You can also visit Stone Dental Group-SE Chicago Dentistry at 2845 N Sheridan Rd #914, Chicago, IL 60657. We will assist you further.