To chew your food, chat with your loved ones, flash a bright smile - all of these require your teeth to be in their best condition. However, the problem is that people often don't treat their teeth well enough to ensure that they'll remain healthy at all times. In fact, there may be many bad habits that people do without realizing it, and the results can be disastrous for their oral health.
If you are wondering what these habits are, your trusted Waterford dentist will share six bad habits with you so that you can be aware and avoid them as much as possible:
1. Brushing Incorrectly
You might be thinking that there wouldn't be anything wrong with brushing your teeth, but the thing is, it depends on how you do it and whether you do it correctly. Brushing too lightly or brushing too hard can both be damaging to your gums and teeth. Aggressive brushing can even erode your teeth' enamel and cause gum problems.
2. Teeth-Grinding
Did you know that you might be grinding your teeth without you even realizing it? This is because bruxism (the term for this condition) usually occurs when you're deep asleep. Bruxism is actually common among those who are suffering from stress or sleep-related issues like insomnia or sleep apnea. Not only can bruxism cause premature wearing of your teeth, but it can also lead to a misaligned jaw and headaches. On top of that, it can cause chronic facial pain and muscle dysfunction.
3. Chewing Ice
Just because your teeth are not sensitive to cold doesn't mean you should abuse it and chew ice chips or ice cubes! This practice is actually very damaging to your teeth and may even cause chipping.
4. Using Your Teeth as Bottle Opener
You may feel great about the strength of your teeth and show off to your friends that you can easily open all your soda or beer bottles with your teeth. However, doing so can compromise your teeth and even lead to a dental emergency. When you accidentally break a tooth, make sure you rush to the closest dental house to see if the tooth can still be saved.
5. Smoking
This is no secret, and you probably already know the consequences that come with this bad habit. Smoking causes bad breath and leaves stains on the teeth. Besides that, it can also lead to periodontal disease, premature tooth loss, decay, and even cancer of the mouth.
6. Not Drinking Enough Water
Although this is not commonly discussed, you must hydrate adequately if you want to maintain healthy teeth. When you are unable to brush your teeth, you can at least drink water to wash down acid from your mouth. You should also drink water after you eat or drink teeth-staining beverages like coffee or wine.
Conclusion
These are just some of the things you might be doing without realizing how damaging they can be to your teeth. If you continue doing these, you would have to make more frequent trips to your dentist, and even if you find affordable dental services, the cost of fixing your teeth will be costly. Hopefully, after reading this, you will be more self-aware and avoid these habits to save your teeth and maintain your oral health!
Dental House is your reliable local dentist in Waterford who can provide you with preventive and restorative dental services. Get in touch with us today to know more about our services or make an appointment!