5 Bad Habits That Can Wreak Havoc On Your Oral Health.

Bad habits like biting nails, using teeth as tools, chewing on ice cubes, snacking frequently, thumb sucking, teeth grinding, or brushing too hard can wreak havoc on your oral health. Read on to learn how!

Nail Biting

When you bite your nails, you place your teeth at risk of chipping or breaking off entirely. You may also experience jaw pain from clenching your jaw and placing pressure on both sides of your mouth at once. Your teeth will be more sensitive after biting your nails for a long time. We recommend quitting nail biting immediately to save your natural smile.

Using Teeth As Tools

While the occasional use of teeth as tools won’t cause much damage to our oral health, habitual use can damage the enamel on our teeth and wear them down over time. We often use them to open packages or hold items such as pens and writing utensils. However, using your teeth can weaken them and lead to chips or cracks. This can take a toll on the overall strength of the smile as well as lead to infection in the affected area. It’s best to avoid

Chewing Ice Cubes

This habit may seem harmless, but it’s actually not good for your teeth at all. When you chew ice cubes, you’re applying a lot of pressure to your teeth and essentially “grinding” them against each other. This can lead to damaged enamel and even broken teeth. Ice cubes are also cold, which can make sensitive teeth hurt even more. If you’d like something to chew on besides ice, try sugarless gum or sugar-free candy. They’re still kind of crunchy, but at least they won’t have a negative impact on your oral health.

Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding is more than just a bad habit; it’s one of the most common symptoms of bruxism. This is a condition that can cause damage to the teeth and the jaw joint. If you grind your teeth at night or during the day, it’s a good idea to speak with your dentist about treatment options and ways to prevent further damage from the habit. In some cases, your dentist may prescribe a night guard to protect teeth from grinding against each other. If stress is a contributing factor for you, learning how to manage your stress levels may also be helpful in preventing future occurrences.

Brushing Too Hard

When we brush our teeth too hard, we risk damaging the enamel that protects our smile. Enamel is the hard outer layer of our teeth that also acts as a barrier to prevent bacteria from reaching the inner part of our smiles. When this happens, we can experience symptoms of sensitivity like tooth pain, and toothaches and cavities can form. A dentist can help diagnose the cause of the sensitivity and offer treatment options to restore comfort.

When it comes to brushing properly, we only need a small strip of toothpaste to gently clean the teeth. Many patients tend to over-brush their teeth when they first start to notice symptoms because the pain causes them to focus on the problem area even more. However, this only further wears down the soft gum tissue and can cause bleeding gums as well. Instead, focus on proper hygiene habits and avoid common oral health hazards that affect the health of the teeth and gums.

G. Larry Leonakis, DDS, provides regular checkups and treatments and provides patients with the information to make their best decisions. Visit us at 371 S Roop St, Carson City, NV 89701, contact us at (775) 882-0635 or visit our website https://www.drlarrydds.com for further information.