Taking care of your teeth and gums is important for your overall health. There is a direct connection between oral health and your body’s overall well-being. Good oral health can help prevent medical conditions such as diabetes, heart attack, and stroke.
Not taking care of your oral health can lead to the buildup of harmful bacteria along the gum line, which can create a breeding ground for bacteria. Neglecting regular brushing and flossing can also lead to more serious conditions like gingivitis, periodontitis, and trench mouth.
The effects of poor oral care can become evident over time, leading to tooth loss, gum disease, and even serious medical conditions like cardiovascular disease. People who have lost teeth may consider replacing them with dental implants.
Unfortunately, many people have developed bad oral care habits without realizing the damage they can cause. This is understandable since most people are not dental professionals.
Here are seven habits that can damage your teeth – and what to do about them!
1. Opening things
Your teeth are not meant to replace a knife, scissors, or bottle opener! Most of us are guilty at some point or another of cracking something open (mainly nuts, bags, and soda bottles) with our chicklets. When we do this, we increase the odds of breaking or chipping one or more teeth.
2. Using tobacco
Not much of a surprise here. Mountains of research link tobacco use with an increased risk of gum disease and oral cancers. Besides potentially acquiring cancer (as if that isn’t a good enough reason!), snuffing and smoking tobacco can permanently stain your teeth.
3. Biting your nails
“Quit biting your nails!!” Does anyone else remember being screamed at for munching on your digits? Well, there are a couple of good reasons.
First, think about how many things our fingers encounter during the day. Throughout 24 hours, we’ll accumulate millions of bacteria on our hands and under our nails. So our chances of getting sick go way up, we may very well chip or otherwise damage a tooth.
4. Piercings of the cheek, lip, and tongue
While considered trendy among some youngsters, piercings anywhere around the mouth are risky. According to the Canadian Dental Association (CDA), these piercings can lead to ‘chronic injury to adjacent teeth and mucosa (inside of cheeks, lips, taste buds), including tooth fracture, and gum recession, which can lead to tooth loss.’
5. Consuming too many acidic foods
Eating too many foods high in acidity (lemons, limes, oranges, etc.) may damage your teeth’ enamel (hard outer layer). Enamel damage dramatically increases the risk of cavities and oral diseases.
6. Clenching the jaw or grinding teeth
People who clench their jaw and grind their teeth generally do so out of nervous habit or stress. While widespread, dental experts claim that jaw clenching and tooth grinding increases the risk of a misaligned jaw and deterioration of the teeth. Furthermore, either habit may cause the surfacing – or worsening of – headaches and jaw pain.
7. High sugar consumption
As a rule, the more sugar eaten, the higher the presence of oral bacteria. As if this isn’t bad enough, sugar consumption also correlates with higher levels of bacteria and toxins in and around other body parts. Surprisingly, throat lozenges are considered products that should be avoided due to their sugar content. And don’t forget…bubblegum also contains sugar!
Final Thoughts: Reversing Damage to Teeth and Gums
Depending on the severity of any present condition, it may be entirely possible to reverse or limit damage to the teeth and gums. Here are a few pieces of advice, courtesy of the experts.
First, begin practicing excellent oral care. This means thoroughly brushing your teeth twice daily and flossing at least once. Proper brushing and flossing are your two primary tools to guard against damage.
Second, see a dentist if you notice significant gum recession. Receding gums are a common oral problem, and a dentist can prescribe various treatments that can both repair gum tissue and prevent further damage.
Third, abstain from any behavior or habit that may damage your teeth. Besides not engaging in any of the seven habits mentioned above, it is helpful to be aware of other patterns that may cause problems. According to the American Dental Association (ADA):
- Binge eating
- Brushing too hard
- Chewing ice cubes
- Drinking too much coffee or red wine
- Eating too many snacks
- Gnawing on writing utensils
- Playing sports without a mouthguard
- Snack on veggies. For example, cucumbers are a yummy, crispy snack that’s a great alternative to high-sugar or salty snacks and doesn’t harm your teeth. Consuming them also has many other health benefits.
Source: powerofpositivity
