You brush your teeth twice every day and floss once every day and you go to bed thinking nothing can harm your teeth. But the truth is quite different.
While brushing and flossing are important, it isn’t enough to ensure good teeth. Many of us have habits that continue to harm our teeth without us even knowing about them.
What is worse is that these habits can totally negate the benefits of regular brushing and flossing.
If not avoided, they can ruin your teeth and your perfect smile in spite of taking regular care of your teeth.
You do not need a dentist for this. What you need is awareness about the harmful habits and the zeal to abstain from them at all costs.
Bad habits that you should avoid
If you do not want to lose your lovely smile, it is important that you give up these bad habits immediately:
Teeth grinding
Do you wake up in the morning with a sore jaw or a constant headache that has no reason at all? Well, this may be caused due to teeth grinding.
Teeth grinding or bruxism, as it is known, is a response to stress or anxiety and usually happens when the person is asleep.
Bruxism can also occur due to sleep apnea or missing teeth. Although occasional teeth grinding is harmless, it can be very serious if it happens on a regular basis.
Continued teeth grinding can cause loosening and fracturing of teeth. When done constantly, you may also lose a tooth.
All these could make root canals, dental implants, crowns, crowns, bridges, partial and complete dentures necessary.
You could also end up with joint dysfunction, muscle pain, etc.
The problem with teeth grinding is that most people are unaware of it because it happens during sleep.
That is why if you see any symptoms like pain in the jaw, headache, etc. it is best that you see a doctor about it.
It is essential that your physician looks for deeper causes of grinding before suggesting a night tooth guard or a snoring device.
If you find that you are clenching your teeth unnecessarily during the day, try meditating or other relaxation exercises that will help you gain control over your muscles.
Vigorous brushing
We all know that brushing teeth twice daily is important for good dental health. But did you know that you can harm your teeth if you do it wrong?
If you didn’t know, it is high time that you do. Vigorous brushing or over-brushing can cause harm to your teeth.
Often people, too zealous about their dental health, tend to brush their teeth very hard. This results in toothbrush abrasion that wears off the enamel coating of the teeth.
This makes the teeth weak and sensitive. When you brush your teeth too hard, your gums take a toll too. They get damaged and recede which opens up the sensitive root area of the teeth.
This may lead to periodontal diseases, root cavities, etc. In general, it has been seen that people too keen on cleaning their teeth or those using bristles that are hard on teeth face these problems commonly.
So, it is best that you hold back your horses when it comes to brushing your teeth. Brush gently so that you do not harm your teeth.
Taking sugary food and drinks
Most of us have heard that eating too much sweet can harm our teeth. Well, this is not untrue. Not only sweets, anything that contains too much sugar is harmful to your teeth.
While sugar itself has no effect on your teeth, it aids bacteria present in the mouth to release more acid.
This acid is responsible for tooth decay. When you eat sugary foods too often and do not wash your mouth or brush your teeth, the effect of the bacteria on your teeth increases, resulting in faster tooth decay.
Sugar molecules can also combine with the bacteria and saliva present in
the mouth to form plaques on teeth.
If plaque is not removed, it can eat through the teeth enamel, thus causing cavities. Sugary drinks can also harm your gums by causing gingivitis.
Smoking
Smoking is injurious to health and to your teeth.
Apart from discolouring and staining your teeth, it can lead to gum diseases, cause bad breath, hamper your smell and taste, and increase the risk of oral cancer.
So, it is advised that you quit smoking immediately if you want to save
yourself from a plethora of diseases, including gum diseases.
Having acidic food and drink
If you do not want to harm your teeth, you have to take care of what you need.
Sugary foods are not the only culprit. Acidic foods can be too. If you take foods like lemons, limes, etc. on a regular basis, make sure that you do not let them harm your teeth.
To do so, avoid too much teeth contact with these foods. You can use straws instead of sipping juices that are acidic in nature.
This will reduce contact considerably. If you are eating them, do not spend too much time doing so.
Eat them quickly and wash your mouth so that the acid doesn’t remain within your mouth.
You must do the same for sodas, including diet ones.
Not flossing
Many people tend to ‘forget’ flossing. That, however, is dangerous for your teeth. Regular flossing is a must if you want to avoid plaque buildup which can damage your teeth.
Flossing not only keeps plaques at bay, but it also helps to remove food particles that are trapped between teeth and improves gum health.
Chewing ice
Many of us like chewing ice that comes with our drinks. Many people may innocuously chew ice cubes from the fridges just for the sake of it.
If you have been doing so, you need to stop it immediately. Biting hard ice can result in chipped teeth and broken fillings.
Prolonged chewing can cause tooth sensitivity and jaw pain. So, it is best that you avoid chewing ice.
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