When people think about looking after their teeth, the basics are obvious. Brushing twice a day, flossing, visiting the dentist on a regular basis, avoiding sugary drinks etc. However, there may be some habits that you aren’t even aware that you are doing which are causing a great deal of harm to your pearly whites. Here, we will talk about a few of them to encourage you to break them once and for all!
Nail Biting
Nail biting is the type of nervous habit that may seem harmless (albeit a little annoying) but it can actually lead to chipped teeth and jaw dysfunction. Try applying a nail polish on a more regular basis so you are instantly reminded that you need to stop. It may be that stress is the trigger, so if you are in a pressurised situation, try keeping your hands busy to keep them away from your mouth.
Brushing Your Teeth Too Hard
While it is great that you are brushing on a regular basis, however, it’s not too good if you are using a brush that is too hard or simply being too aggressive. Reading through parkcrossingdentistry.com, you see that this leads to damage to your teeth and gum irritation. Try using a softer brush and think about massaging your teeth in small circles rather than scrubbing them.
Grinding and Clenching
Again, this is a habit that can be brought on by too much stress. If you find that you are grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw, this can cause chipped teeth, muscle tenderness and joint pain. Some simple relaxation exercises can make all the difference, but if you find that you cannot break this habit during the nighttime, you may well need to wear a mouthguard to cut it out once and for all.
Crunching Ice Cubes
If you are the person who pours the ice out of your drink to chew on, now is the time to rethink this habit. Though most of the time you won’t have any issues, it only takes a single occasion for a tooth or a filling to break to leave in a terrible state. If this happens, you may need to look into All on 4 Treatment. So, either order the drink without ice or have it through a straw to remove any temptations!
Using Your Teeth as Tools
Your teeth were specifically designed for eating; not to open bottles, act as a pair of scissors or any other similar practical job! Not only could you end up cracking your teeth or damaging your jaw, but you could end up accidentally swallowing something. So, the next time you are tempted to use your teeth for anything other than their primary purpose, don’t do it!
If you have recognised that you engage in any of these five harmful dental habits, now is the time to quit for the sake of your teeth. After all, you don’t want to cause any easily preventable problems to occur which will result in a potentially expensive and painful trip to the dentist.
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