Knowledge is Half the Battle
Many times we may have habits that we don’t realize are causing damage to our teeth and beautiful smile. Chances are if you knew what these bad habits were you would make an effort to stop these bad habits before the damage is done. However, the damage may already be done and a visit to the dentist is going to be in order.
What Can Be Done?
If you have a bad habit such as grinding your teeth at night, a dentist can make you a mouth guard. If you smoke, getting patches and quitting is a great idea, not only for your health but also for the damage it does to your teeth. Cutting back on soda, coffee, and wine or giving them up altogether is another step that can be taken to protect your teeth.
Top 10 Worse Habits That Are Damaging Your Teeth
1. Smoking or Chewing Tobacco
Of course, we all know smoking is a terrible habit and very difficult to kick. With regards to your teeth tobacco stains your teeth, but that isn’t the worse damage that it does to your teeth. Tobacco products can cause your teeth to come loose and fall out from gum disease, not to mention the potential for oral cancers.
2. Grinding Your Teeth
Grinding your teeth, also referred to as Bruxism, is a habit that is caused by stress. People grind their teeth at night and don’t even realize they are doing it. It wears down the teeth. A mouth guard worn at night can help relieve this almost uncontrollable habit.
3. Chewing Ice
Hard ice can chip and damage your teeth. Opt for chewing on sugar-free gum instead.
4. Baby’s Bedtime Bottle
Giving your baby a bottle at bedtime can promote tooth decay in teeth. If you give your baby a bedtime bottle, remove it as soon as your baby is asleep.
5. Drinking Soda, Sports Drinks, Fruit Juices, Red Wine and Coffee
Soda contains, not only a lot of sugar but also phosphoric and citric acids, which eat away at your tooth enamel. Diet sodas have artificial sweeteners which may actually be worse. Sports drinks and fruit juices, believe it or not, are actually high in sugar and bad for your teeth. Red Wines contain chromogen and tannins which stain the teeth. Coffee causes yellowing of the teeth. It’s not easy but water is always the best option.
6. Using Your Teeth as Tools to Open Packages and Bottles
Obviously, this is a really bad habit. It can cause the teeth to chip or crack. Keep scissors on hand or bottle openers.
7. Gummy Candy
Gummy candy sticks to the teeth and coat them with sugars. Try to avoid gummy candy if at all possible.
8. Cough Drops
Cough drops have a ton of sugar that coats the teeth and causes decay. After you suck on a cough drop brush your teeth.
9. Playing Sports Without a Mouth Guard
This should be obvious, but if it isn’t, it will become painfully so when a tooth gets dislodged or completely knocked out. If that does happen a dentist can make what’s called a flipper to replace a lost tooth, however, using a mouth guard is always a better choice.
10. Chewing on Pencils
Chewing on anything hard out of a nervous habit is never a good idea due to the damage it can cause to teeth. Opt for sugar-free gum instead.
For all of your dental needs come see Dr. Michael Todd or Dr. Michael Opler and their caring staff at Simcoe Smile Dental located at 936 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa. Give us a call to make your appointment today at (905)728-2321.