While brushing, flossing, and regular visits to our office for cleanings and exams are important ways to protect the health of your teeth, caring for your oral health extends beyond just your oral hygiene. In fact, your lifestyle and habits can be a huge impact on your health. Our team at Milltown Family Dentistry have compiled the following list of habits you should avoid to keep your pearly whites healthy and strong.
- Crunching Ice
- Smoking
- Brushing Too Hard
- Grinding Teeth at Night
- Using Teeth As Tools
If you’re in the habit of crunching ice as a refreshment, keep in mind that this habit is a common way our patients report breaking or chipping a tooth. If you really want a crunchy snack, celery is a great substitution.
It’s no secret that smoking has a negative impact on overall health. In addition to increasing your risk for various diseases, smoking can stain teeth, cause chronic bad breath, and lead to gum disease and tooth loss.
You should brush your teeth twice each day for two minutes at a time. Occasionally, we hear from patients who believe that if they brush their teeth vigorously, they can finish more quickly while getting the same cleaning power. This is false! Not only is brushing vigorously no substitute for brushing thoroughly, it can also irritate your gums and damage your tooth enamel.
Nighttime teeth grinding, otherwise known as bruxism, has many causes ranging from stress to sleep breathing disorders. Grinding can wear away on your teeth and lead to chipped or cracked teeth. It’s important to discover and treat the root cause of tooth grinding to give your teeth some relief while you sleep.
If you use your teeth as a tool to open packages or for other purposes, keep in mind that doing so can damage your teeth. This is a common way that teeth become chipped or cracked. Instead, reach for some scissors!
Get Your Oral Health Back on Track!
Now that you understand more about how these common habits can have a negative impact on your oral health, we hope you will take steps to kick these habits to the curb. Contact us to ask our team any questions or to schedule your next visit to our office.
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