Good oral health is essential for your overall health and well-being. However, there are many habits that can damage our oral health. Listed below are some of these habits.
Some people bite their nails when they are bored or stressed. This behavior can damage the teeth by creating a groove in the enamel and chipping the front teeth. The muscles in the jaw can become sore from overuse too. If you have this habit, try to stop it at the earliest.
Many smokers also develop discolored teeth and bad breath. Smoking stains the teeth from the nicotine and other chemicals in smoke. It also affects saliva production, which helps keep the mouth clean and prevents cavities, making smokers more susceptible to decay. Some dentists offer whitening treatments to help smokers deal with this problem. A cigarette contains a lot of toxins that can weaken the enamel and gums. The smoke from the cigarette can also cause bad breath or halitosis, gum disease/gingivitis, damage to gum tissues, and lead to oral cancer. If you are finding it difficult to quit smoking, then talk to your dentist about various smoking cessation services available in your area.
Not seeing the dentist every six months is another bad habit that can negatively affect oral health. A dentist is trained to diagnose and treat a wide range of problems that may crop up in the mouth, including tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer. Going to the dentist twice a year can prevent most dental problems or treat them before they get worse.
To maintain good oral health, the toothbrush you use and the technique matter as well. Brushing teeth aggressively or using hard bristles can erode the gums and cause bleeding. Brushing too hard can also cause gum recession. This condition exposes the underlying layer of the teeth, which is made up of dentin tubules that are vulnerable to bacteria that may cause caries if left exposed. To prevent this damage, while brushing your teeth, use gentle pressure and avoid doing it in a circular motion. Avoid scrubbing or rubbing your teeth hard enough to irritate them. A soft-bristled toothbrush is recommended to avoid damaging tooth enamel while removing plaque. Moreover, make sure that you brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes, each time with a soft-bristled brush.
Bruxism is a condition that involves clenching the jaw and grinding the teeth. It can cause tooth enamel to wear down over time, which can leave teeth sensitive and prone to fractures. Patients can also develop facial pain as a result of bruxism. This condition is typically caused by stress or anxiety, so patients should try to seek out treatment from a mental health professional in addition to their dental care provider. If a patient has chronic teeth grinding, your dentist may be recommended to wear a mouth guard at night to prevent their teeth from touching.
When we use teeth for anything other than eating food, we’re subjecting them to unnecessary stress and potential damage. For example, if we’re trying to open a bag of chips, we might use our teeth to pry it open. This is stressful on our teeth and can eventually lead to cracking or tooth fractures. Furthermore, we can potentially chip our front teeth if we try to use them as a tool to open bottle caps or tear cloth tags.
We can avoid this habit by not using our teeth to open packages, bottles, or anything else that requires a pulling motion. Instead, we can use scissors or a bottle opener. This will keep our teeth out of harm’s way and ensure they stay healthy for years to come.
For more tips about keeping your teeth healthy, contact our experienced dentists at Cheyenne Mountain Dental. We can help you schedule an appointment so you don’t miss any of the fun and festivities this holiday season!
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