Some of my patients take impeccable care of their teeth: they brush after every meal, floss daily, and never miss a cleaning or dental exam. While you would expect people who are so diligent about their dental care to have near perfect smiles, sometimes they’re doing other things that completely sabotage their teeth. Are you among those who are unknowingly damaging their teeth? Let’s find out.
Bad Habit #1 — Chewing On Ice
When you’ve reached the end of your beverage, it may be tempting to chew on the ice that remains in your glass. The problem is that ice is hard enough to chip or crack your teeth as well as cause damage to any dental work you may have (such as crowns or veneers). To avoid the temptation, consider drinking through a straw so the ice comes nowhere near those pearly whites.
Bad Habit #2 — Using Your Teeth As Tools
If the proper tools aren’t within reach, it’s so easy to just use your teeth to open a bag, remove a label, or (*gasp*) even pop off a bottle cap. While tearing open a bag of chips may seem innocuous, it can still cause damage to your teeth. Do your grin a favor and carry an all-in-one tool such as a Swiss Army knife or take the extra steps to find the proper tools so you won’t need to resort to using your teeth.
Bad Habit #3 — Biting Your Nails
Biting your nails isn’t just bad for your teeth, it can cause stress on your jaw, as well. What’s more is that the dirt, germs, and bacteria that live under your nails end up in your mouth where they can cause a number of illnesses. The same goes for chewing on pens, pencils, or other gadgets not intended for your teeth. To break the biting or chewing habit, consider applying a foul-tasting deterrent (available in drug stores) to your nails or pens so that when you forget, the unpleasant flavor will remind you to stop.
Bad Habit #4 — Grinding and Clenching
These habits are particularly hard to break since so many people grind or clench their teeth while they sleep. Also known as bruxism, clenching and grinding can cause severe jaw pain, neck pain, ear aches, and headaches in addition to literally grinding your teeth down. The good news is that I can create a dental appliance that will prevent you from harming your teeth as you sleep.
If you’re concerned that any of these habits have already caused damage to your teeth, call my office to schedule an appointment. Together we can come up with a plan to restore any potential damage and prevent future problems. I look forward to seeing your smile!
Fondly,
Dr. Britt
