Oral Habits to Break Before It's Too Late
Cunning Dental Group has listed the top 13 worst habits for your teeth and gums to help prevent painful toothaches, bleeding gums, and expensive trips to the dentist.
1. Aggressive brushing, especially with a firm-bristled toothbrush
Applying too much pressure on your teeth while brushing can damage the tooth’s protective covering (enamel), leading to extreme sensitivity to hot or cold foods, cavities, and gum recession.
To preserve your brilliant smile, opt for a soft-bristled toothbrush and use small, circular motions for two minutes after every meal.
2. Using toothpaste with harsh ingredients
Some kinds of toothpaste, especially those marketed for tartar control, are often too abrasive. Anything with "grit" or small solid particles does much more than clean your teeth. Abrasive kinds of toothpaste can destroy enamel and cause receding gums.
Fluoride is the one ingredient most teeth need. It strengthens the tooth enamel and prevents the onset of cavities, causing bad breath and tooth infections.
3. Failure to acknowledge the importance of flossing
Allowing harmful oral bacteria to thrive and accumulate, especially in the hard-to-reach crevices and grooves of your teeth, enables a sticky substance (plaque) to form in less than 24 hours and eventually cause cavities and gum disease.
According to the American Dental Association, flossing once a day is essential to maintaining healthy teeth and gums by removing plaque.
4. Being addicted to the ultimate bad habit: Smoking
One word: Cancer. Smoking or using tobacco products not only impacts the health of your teeth and gums, but it can also cause life-threatening conditions such as oral cancer, lung cancer, and heart disease. Smoking is also a leading cause of discolored teeth.
Quit smoking now to preserve your healthy smile and reduce the risk of developing cancer and other serious health problems.
5. Loving the fizz
Exposing your teeth to carbonated beverages such as regular and diet Coke, Pepsi, and several other sodas can lead to enamel erosion due to their phosphoric acid and citric acid content.
Ensure to limit your consumption of carbonated beverages and use a straw to minimize contact between harmful acids and your teeth. Also, remember to brush after drinking or eating anything that contains sugar. A 12-ounce soda already has 9.75 teaspoons of sugar.
6. Consuming teeth-staining foods and beverages
Anything that stains a tablecloth can also stain your teeth. Tea, coffee, red wine, marinara sauce, soy sauce, and soda are examples of teeth-staining foods and drinks.
If you have discolored teeth, ask your local dentist about ZOOM! Teeth Whitening in Irvine and Montclair, CA.
7. Thumb sucking in adulthood
As many as 1 in 10 adults suck their thumb to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. Unfortunately, thumb sucking can cause facial deformations and malocclusion, which typically require orthodontic treatment to correct.
Try substituting techniques such as meditation, yoga, and deep breathing to help relieve stress and protect yourself from dental malocclusion.
8. Being too lazy to grab a churchkey or pair of scissors
Using your teeth to open beer bottles or snip tags off new clothes can damage existing dental work and cause a dental emergency.
As convenient as it is to have teeth that can rip packages and bend metal, you risk cracking your teeth, cutting your lip, and slicing your inner cheeks and tongue. Instead of compromising your oral health, use the proper tools for your chores and projects.
9. Neglecting teeth grinding and jaw clenching
Grinding and clenching (bruxism) can cause many agonizing consequences, including cracking or chipping of the teeth, joint pain, muscle tenderness, difficulty opening the mouth widely, and painful chewing.
Stress, anxiety, an abnormal bite, and missing teeth are among the common causes of bruxism, which primarily occurs during sleep. Relaxation techniques and using a mouthguard to address sleep apnea can help reduce teeth grinding and jaw clenching.
10. Biting the lips and inner cheeks
Biting your lips or inner cheeks can lead to serious oral health problems. According to a 2017 study published in the International Journal of Dentistry, cheek biting is a potential risk factor for oral cancer. Furthermore, if you bite your cheek or lip excessively, the skin can become so sore and irritated that an infection may develop.
11. Letting your oral cavity drown in bacteria while you sleep
Brushing your teeth before bedtime is important for reasons beyond fresh breath. The time you spend sleeping is when bacteria multiply fastest. Therefore, if you leave your teeth and gums covered in harmful bacteria throughout the night, you are more prone to developing cavities and gum disease.
12. Ignoring your teeth and gums' call for help
Chronic bad breath, swollen gums, and a lingering toothache are hallmarks of a serious dental health problem. If anything is amiss with your oral health, do not hesitate to contact the best dentist in Southern California. Ignoring the problem and carrying on with poor dental hygiene practices can put you at risk of health issues beyond your oral cavity. For instance, the American Dental Association and the American Heart Association acknowledge that periodontal disease may increase cardiovascular disease risk.
13. Avoiding dental checkups
Here is something you are well aware of: Having and maintaining perfect teeth requires visiting a dental health professional every six months. However, depending on your specific needs, your dentist may recommend additional appointments throughout the year.
Takeaway
Brushing after every meal, flossing once daily, and practicing other good oral hygiene habits is a way of life for many people. If you are reading this article wondering about effective oral hygiene practices, then you are most likely one of them. Good oral hygiene is essential for healthy teeth and gums, giving you a captivating smile and enhancing your self-esteem. Meanwhile, poor oral habits can cause several mouth ailments that command high dentist bills. So, to enjoy a lifetime of perfect teeth and to avoid spending thousands of dollars on oral health problems, try our tips above.
Cunning Dental Group consists of specialists in general and cosmetic dentistry procedures. Give us a call at (855) 328-6646 if you wish to schedule an appointment. Our team looks forward to examining your teeth, addressing any issues, and providing you with recommendations on how to break bad dental habits.
Comments