While there are dental hygiene practices that are recommended to keep teeth healthy and clean, such as brushing and flossing, there are habits that you should avoid in order to maintain good dental health, as well.
Dental Safety
Enamel is the hardest substance in the body, but that doesn’t mean it’s indestructible. Once enamel is damaged, it can’t be regenerated. In order to repair teeth, treatments such as crowns, fillings, and veneers are necessary. By cutting out these common habits, however, you can minimize having to go through these procedures and keep your teeth intact.
- Nail biting: A seemingly harmless habit, nail biting is often brought on by stress and anxiety, and can break or chip your teeth. It can also transfer bacteria and germs from hands to your mouth, increasing the chances of illness.
- Opening cans or bottles with your teeth: You may instinctively try to open a bottle, or tear something open with your teeth as if they are a tool. This is a good way to break, crack or chip your teeth. In some cases the crack or fissure may be so slight you won’t notice until the problem becomes bigger.
- Ice cube chewing: Teeth are meant to crush through things not against them. While your teeth are strong, the cold temperature and hardness of ice cubes can damage enamel over time, causing chipping, fissures, cracks, tooth sensitivity, and gum irritation.
- Brushing teeth too hard: Aggressively brushing teeth can cause enamel abrasion, tooth sensitivity, and gum irritation. Apply gentle pressure when brushing teeth so as not to cause more harm than good.
If you’re in Brunswick, GA and have questions or concerns about your dental health, please feel free to contact our office. We care about your teeth and are here to help.
