Teeth are extremely durable, but are you wrecking your teeth without even know it? As most of you know soda, candy and desserts can harm your teeth, but do you know what other habits may be taking a toll on your teeth and gums? You may be unaware that some of your habits can damage your teeth over time. The following is a list of bad habits, why they’re harmful and what you can do to stop.
Ice Crunching- After drinking your ice-cold water or iced tea you may like too munch on the ice afterwards, but do you know what that’s doing to your pearly whites? The cold temperature and brittleness of the ice cubes can actually fracture a tooth. When biting into ice cubes it can cause microscopic cracks in your tooth enamel and can lead to larger dental problems over time. Instead of chewing on ice, try finding a nice crisp snack too munch on, such as baby carrots or apples.
Teeth as Tools- I’m sure you can’t deny that you’ve used your teeth as a tool at one point in your life. Many people use their teeth for tasks, such as ripping a price tag off of clothing, to open a bottled water, to tear open food packages, and even biting nails. These sort of tasks may be hard on your teeth and can lead to a weakened edge of your tooth, which can eventually crack or chip. Instead of using your teeth as tools, try keeping simple tools such as scissors or nail clippers handy. The only tool your teeth should be used for is chewing food.
Teeth Grinding and Clenching- People grind their teeth for multiple reasons, including stress, anxiety or even because of an abnormal bite or crooked tooth. When you grind or even clench your teeth it can cause microfractures or actual fractures in your teeth. Microfractures can eventually lead to a chipped tooth due to the weakened areas. If your grind or clench you teeth, your dentist may recommend that you wear a mouth guard if you grind or clench your teeth during the night. If you think stress is a trigger, find an outlet like an exercise program or counseling. Also never chew on pens or anything that isn’t food.
Thumb Sucking- Children that still are sucking their thumbs when their adult teeth start coming in could cause permanent changes to their tooth and jaw structure. Thumb sucking can cause misaligned teeth, which could cause further issues like trouble chewing. Try to wean your child off his or her thumb before the age of 5 or before adult teeth start to come in.
Kick your bad habits before they cause permanent damage to your teeth. If you do have a cracked or damaged tooth, contact Advanced Dental Group in West Palm Beach, FL at (561) 220-4808 today to schedule a visit! Visit our website at www.advanceddentalgrp.com for more information regarding our services.