Some common habits may seem harmless but can actually have a negative impact on your dental health. The result will be tooth cavities, gum bleeding, tooth loss, and other dental problems. Avoid the following habits which can damage your teeth or mouth.
Chewing or Smoking Tobacco
Tobacco products contain harmful ingredients that can negatively impact your dental health in the following ways:
- Tobacco leads to gum disease, which negatively affects your teeth.
- Tobacco smoke can stain your teeth and turn them yellow.
- Chewing tobacco products can cause mouth cancer and cavities.
The solution is to avoid using tobacco products altogether.
Consuming Acidic and Sugary Foods and Drinks
The pH value of your saliva always remains close to neutral and ranges between 6.5 to 7.5 pH. However, certain foods and drinks, such as vinegar, tomatoes, regular and diet sodas, and citrus fruits, have high acidic content and can damage your teeth. The acid wears away the enamel and causes tooth sensitivity and erosion.
Once the enamel washes away, the dentin layer underneath becomes exposed, causing your teeth to turn slightly yellow. They might also become softer or rounded at the edges. Eventually, small cracks will appear on the teeth’s edges.
The solution is not to avoid consuming acidic foods, as these meals contain essential nutrients. Instead, rinse your mouth immediately after consuming foods or drinks with high acidic content. A straw can also help keep acidic beverages from touching your teeth.
Biting Your Nails Frequently
People often bite their nails because of anxiety or nervousness. Nail biting is common in children and many teenagers. Over time, nail biting becomes a habit, and you may do it without even thinking. While your teeth can withstand more pressure than your nails, frequent nail-biting can damage your teeth and gums.
Eventually, nail-biting will cause your teeth to become uneven or jagged. Nail-biting can also transfer germs and dirt from the fingernails to your teeth and increase your chances of developing gingivitis. Continuous nail biting can also lead to jaw soreness, headaches, and other oral health problems.
One of the best strategies to eliminate the problem is to keep short nails at all times. You can also use nail polish to make your nails taste bad and deter nail biting.
Drinking an Insufficient Amount of Water
Engaging in strenuous physical activities can cause your body to lose a lot of fluids. The loss is particularly greater if the temperatures are high. Failure to quickly and continuously replace the fluids by drinking enough water regardless of your activity can lead to dehydration. Eventually, dehydration reduces the amount of saliva in your mouth, negatively affecting your gums and teeth.
Saliva protects your dental health by removing bacteria and food particles from your gums and teeth. The saliva can also neutralize certain acids and fortify your teeth with crucial minerals such as fluoride, phosphate, and calcium. The best way to prevent dehydration is to drink as much water as you need and consume foods with a high water content.
Chewing Ice
You probably enjoy crunching an ice cube from time to time. However, regularly chewing ice can cause extensive damage to your teeth. Here are some common problems associated with chewing ice:
- Cause joint disorders and sore jaw muscles, with symptoms ranging from severe pain to slight discomfort
- Damage existing dental fixtures such as crowns and fillings
- Damage the enamel and leave your teeth exposed to acid and sugar attacks.
- Cause cracked or chipped teeth, potentially calling for an emergency dental checkup.
If you have a craving to chew ice, schedule a physical checkup with your doctor. The cravings may be due to an underlying medical problem or nutrient deficiency.
Proper dental care is necessary for your overall mental and physical health. Work with Commack Hills Dental Group to protect your teeth against cavities and tooth loss. We provide various dental services at affordable rates, so contact us to book an appointment.
