6 Habits That Are Wrecking Your Teeth
About 120 million Americans today are missing at least one tooth, while more than 36 million people in the United States do not have any teeth, according to a study.
As much as we focus on our dental health—flossing and brushing regularly—we have bad habits that are more than damaging to our teeth. We play sports, have drinks, and plan meals without thinking much about the damage they do to our oral health.
Around 30% of people in the world today aged 65–74 have no natural teeth.
It is common knowledge that a poor dental hygiene, teeth grinding, and smoking all have a negative impact on the health of your mouth. Added to this, drinking wine, having sugar, and even opening bottle caps with your teeth is not good for its wellbeing.
So, here are 6 habits that are wrecking your teeth—and you don’t even know it!
1. Playing sports without mouth guard
Whether you are playing cricket, hockey, football, or any other game, wearing a mouth guard is important for the safety of your teeth when the action gets rough. It is a piece of molded plastic that protects your teeth from getting chipped or knocked out.
2. Nail biting
Nail biting is a nervous habit that can chip teeth and have an impact on your jaw. Placing the jaw in a protruding position for long durations can create pressure and lead to jaw dysfunction. To avoid this, you can put bitter-tasting nail polish over your nails, or in case of a tensed situation, keep your fingers busy by holding something.
3. Grinding teeth
Often caused due to sleeping habits and stress, teeth grinding is a major reason for the wearing down of teeth over time. It is difficult to control but to reduce damage and pain from this habit, you should avoid eating hard foods or wear a mouth guard while sleeping.
4. Opening stuff with your teeth
Opening plastic packaging or bottle caps using your teeth may seem convenient but it may cause the teeth to chip or crack. Your teeth are your tool for eating; use bottle openers and scissors to open other stuff.
5. Tongue piercings
While tongue and lip piercings may be trendy, they can cause cracks in your teeth if you bite down on them or even cause gum damage when the metal rubs against your gums. They also increase the risks of sores and infections. So, it is better you consult your dentist first before getting a piercing.
6. Constant snacking
Having a lot of drinks and sugary foods daily puts you at an increased risk for cavities. Eat a balanced meal that is not too high in sugar or fat.
Based in Frisco, at Waterfront Family Dentistry, we use the best technology to offer innovative dental solutions and procedures to our patients. Our team of dedicated dentists offers professional dental services including deep cleaning, tooth removal, root canals, invisalign, and wisdom tooth removal.
