Bad Habits That Can Affect Your Oral Health

We all have some bad habits that adversely affect our dental health. It is important to replace these habits with healthy ones. Listed below are some common habits that can negatively impact our oral health.

Nail Biting

Nail biting is a common bad habit that negatively affects your oral health and your appearance. It's an unconscious habit that can lead to teeth damage, infections in the oral tissues, headaches, jaw pain, and other complications.

If nail biting has become an unconscious habit, you should stop before it causes significant dental damage. Schedule an appointment with your dentist to discuss ways to stop biting your nails before you cause a problem at home.

Chewing Ice Cubes

The habit of chewing on ice can damage the tooth and cause it to fracture. It can also damage the soft tissue inside the mouth and cause injury to the cheeks and lips. If you feel the urge to chew on ice, try using a stress ball instead. This can help distract you from wanting to eat ice.

Frequent Snacking

Whether we're snacking out of boredom, stress, or habit, this bad habit can be damaging to your oral health. When we snack throughout the day, we expose our teeth to sugars and acids from the foods and drinks we consume. If we're not brushing after a snack, the tooth enamel can become damaged, leading to decay. Also, when we frequently eat throughout the day, we don't give our digestive system time to rest between meals. As a result, stomach acid can rise and become more acidic, which can lead to the erosion of tooth enamel. It's important to be mindful of how often and what you eat during the day – try to eat balanced meals and brush after eating!

Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding or bruxism is a condition that affects many people. While occasional teeth grinding does not typically cause harm to the teeth, it can result in jaw pain, headaches, and damaged tooth enamel over time. If you are suffering from frequent teeth grinding, your dentist may recommend wearing a mouthguard when you sleep to prevent further damage from occurring to your teeth. Mouth guards can also help to protect your teeth and jaws from TMJ disorders like temporomandibular joint disorder.

Aggressive Brushing

If you brush your teeth frequently and with too much force, it can wear down your enamel. Over time, you can develop a receding gum line that exposes more of the surface of your teeth. Instead of scrubbing with a hard toothbrush, use a soft-bristled one to gently clean along the gum line. Then, use a floss to clean between teeth. Taking the time to brush properly twice a day for two minutes each time can help you keep your mouth healthy and clean.

Our team at Care 'N' Cure Dental is here to answer any questions you have about keeping your mouth clean and healthy. Call our dental office today at (469) 298-3892 to schedule an appointment with us. You can also request an appointment online by filling out our online form. We look forward to seeing you soon!