Avoid These Bad Dental Habits for a Healthy Smile
The team here at our Houston restorative dentistry practice knows that preventative dentistry is an important part of lasting dental health. This is why we always offer tips and patient education that will help fight cavities and periodontal disease.
With this in mind, we'd like to go over some bad habits that affect dental health. By avoiding these actions, you can prevent tooth decay, tooth fractures, gum disease, and other serious problems.
Smoking and Using Tobacco Products
Use of tobacco products can result in a number of serious health problems. It should come as no surprise that tobacco products can also impact dental health, making gum disease, dental erosion, tooth discoloration, bad breath, dry mouth, and oral cancers far more likely. This is another compelling reason to quit for good.
Using Your Teeth to Open Packages
We've all done it at one time or another. A bag of chips or a plastic wrapper is giving us problems, so we bite into the packaging to help open it up. This can lead to tooth damage if you are not careful, however. If a job calls for scissors, just go ahead and use scissors.
Biting on Hard or Inedible Objects
On the note of causing tooth damage, it's also possible for people to damage their teeth by biting drinking straws and chewing on pen caps. Avoid chips and cracks by just chewing on sugar-free gum.
Biting Your Fingernails
Biting fingernails is a social faux pas to be sure. It's also a potential cause of tooth damage. Do your best to drop this nervous habit.
Not Wearing a Helmet or a Mouth Guard During Sports
Contact sports and combat sports can lead to serious mouth injuries. Even non-contact sports like basketball and soccer can lead to dental injuries in the heat of competition. Because of this, it's important that you wear helmets, mouth guards, and other kinds of protective gear.
Snacking on Candy and Sugary Food
Snacking on candy and sugary snacks can make tooth decay far more likely. Rather than snacking on junk food, consider healthier alternatives, such as fruits and vegetables.
Drinking Too Much Soda
Soft drinks can be refreshing, but the carbonation also affects the pH of your mouth. This increases the chances of enamel erosion and tooth decay. Reduce soda consumption and consider hydrating with water instead.
Not Brushing Your Teeth at Least Twice a Day
Some people don't brush their teeth enough and suffer from serious tooth decay. In order to prevent cavities and keep your mouth clean and healthy, it's important that you brush your teeth at least twice a day. Ideally you should brush after every meal.
Not Flossing at Least Once a Night
People often neglect to floss their teeth, which means that food particles and plaque are allowed to remain trapped between teeth. It's ideal that you floss at least once a night. Ideally it's best to floss after every meal.
Brushing and Flossing Too Hard
Finally, there's a wrong way to brush and floss. Being too aggressive while you brush and floss can lead to damaged tooth enamel and injury to the gums. Be gentle yet thorough as you clean your teeth.
Learn More About Improving Your Dental Habits
For more information about your dental care needs and how we can help your smile be its healthiest, we encourage you to contact our cosmetic and restorative dentistry center today. Our team is here to work with you and enhance the overall health and wellness of your smile.
