Bad Habits That Can Destroy Your Teeth

You are aware of good dental habits, like regular brushing of teeth, flossing and visiting a dentist twice a year for checkups and cleanings. But probably you do not realize that you may have certain bad habits that can have a detrimental effect on your teeth. The results of these bad habits can be chipped teeth, fractures, spacing, headaches and even joint, neck or back pain.

Here is a list of worst dental habits explaining how they ruin your teeth and what you can do to stop them.

Brush your teeth gently

Brushing your teeth vigorously is no good. It does not get your teeth cleaner. In fact, harder brushing wears down the enamel, causes gum irritation, tooth sensitivity and cavity problems. All toothpastes have abrasives in them, so if you brush your teeth harder, it can be like rubbing sandpaper on your gums and teeth. This leads to loss of cementum, which covers the roots, causing gum irritation and tooth sensitivity.

Thumb Sucking

Most of us have heard that thumb sucking causes permanent changes to adult teeth, and that’s very true. Children who still suck their thumbs or fingers when their adult teeth start coming could cause permanent changes in the jaw structure. Thumb sucking can also cause misaligned teeth, which can further cause problems like difficulty in chewing and breathing problems.

Use toothpicks carefully

Using toothpicks can be helpful only when used carefully. It can be used to remove food chunks stuck between your teeth. In your quest for oral hygiene, be careful and don’t get too aggressive with the toothpick.

Avoid crunching Ice cubes

You may believe it or not, but crunching on ice can cause serious damage to your teeth, and it’s essential for you to understand that when you chew on ice, you put a great amount of pressure on your teeth which can wear down enamel or cause cracks and chips. When the enamel is chipped your teeth weaken and you may start experiencing sensitivity.

Using Your Teeth to Tear or Open Objects

Our teeth exist to help us smile, speak and chew food. But most people use them to rip the tags off new clothing, open plastic food packages and water bottles. Even though this may seem like an easy option, one must understand that our teeth are not designed to withstand this type of stress and force. Using your teeth as a tool can cause them to crack, chip or break and can be very painful and costly to repair.

Nail Biting

Chewing hard fingernails takes toll on your teeth. Your teeth could hit together pretty hard and could chip a tooth when the bite goes through a nail. It can result in gingivitis, and cause you to lose your teeth.