You might be taking good care of your teeth by daily brushing and flossing. You might go to your dentist for regular checkups as well. But you would be surprised that even with regular care of your teeth, there are ways you might gradually damage your teeth without knowing. Want to learn how? In this blog post, Coastal Smiles will discuss the most unexpected ways you might be damaging your teeth. Stay engaged to learn more!
- Misusing Your Teeth
One of the most harmful ways to damage your teeth is using it for the things it is not meant for. Ever realized using your teeth as a bottle opener or cracking dry fruits with your mouth? While it seems convenient at that time, these actions can cause you a great deal of harm. Your teeth are not made to crack shells or pop caps; they are made for chewing food.
These routine behaviors may result in teeth cracking, chipped enamel, and even possible alignment problems. Thus, keep in mind that your teeth are better off doing what they do best—encouraging you to enjoy your meals—the next time you’re tempted to use them as a tool!
- Over brushing
You might believe that brushing your teeth more often guarantees that they are cleaner than usual but in reality, over brushing your teeth harms your gums. Many people brush several times a day to ensure they are clean and white or to keep their breath fresh all day. However, excessive brushing pressure or frequency can damage enamel and cause gum irritation. Your teeth’s enamel serves as a protective coating, and once it is worn down, it cannot grow back.
Furthermore, vigorous brushing might cause gum recession, which exposes the delicate tooth roots. Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled brush is the best way to maintain the health of your teeth without unknowingly damaging them.
- Chewing Ice
Although teeth are a strong part of our body, they are not meant to handle the intense pressure needed for chewing ice. If you keep on chewing on ice it can cause cracks in the teeth enamel which leads to greater damage over a long period. Also, the extreme ice temperature may lead to sensitivity especially if you already have issues like enamel erosions and gum problems.
Additionally, chewing ice might strain your jaw muscles more, which may cause pain or difficulties with your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and you may have to visit your emergency dentist. Avoid using ice in your drink and find alternative, less harmful ways to chill it instead, as this can be detrimental to your teeth and general oral health.
- Drinking Sparkling Water
Most people believe that sparkling water is a better option to replace sugary drinks like sodas and even it improves their dental health. However, recent studies suggest otherwise. Although it is true that sparkling water does not contain sugary substances like sodas, it is still rich in carbonic acid which may deteriorate enamel over time.
When combined with regular use the high levels of acidity in sparkling water, can erode your teeth protective enamel, leaving them more vulnerable to cavities and sensitivity. To keep your dental health at its best, keep the consumption of sparkling water and soda in limit. Instead, opt for normal water which keeps you hydrated and neutralizes any acids in your mouth.
- Chewing Items Other than Food
Chewing on random things such as pencils, pen caps, or pens deteriorates your dental health. Chewing the items that are not supposed to be consumed causes excessive wear over time. It can also damage any ongoing dental or gum disease treatment.
As a result of this gradual damage, your teeth may become weaker over time. It also harms braces or fillings in your teeth. Breaking this bad habit of chewing random stuff can help maintain your dental health and safeguard your smile.
- Flossing Excessively
Flossing is an essential part of dental health care. It ensures that there are no food substances left after brushing your teeth. However, excessive and aggressive flossing can harm your teeth and gums. Applying too much pressure leads to irritation causing serious damage to the gum tissues.
Over time, this may result in sensitivity, inflammation, and bleeding gums. Aggressive flossing can cause tiny wounds or scratches on your gums, increasing your risk of infections, rather than helping your oral health. When flossing, it’s crucial to be cautious and utilize a gentle motion to eliminate plaque without hurting yourself.
- Tobacco Consumption
Although it is no surprise that tobacco is detrimental to our overall health, many people don’t consider it a threat to their dental health. Chewing tobacco or smoking can darken your teeth, causing yellowing or even brown discolorations that are hard to get rid of. You may need to visit a cosmetic dentist Wilmington to keep the aesthetics of your teeth.
Beyond aesthetic concerns, smoking raises your risk of gum disease because it lowers blood flow to the gums, which makes it more difficult for your body to fight off infections. This can eventually result in tooth loss, receding gums, and even oral cancer.
- Brushing Too Often
Some people believe that brushing after each meal will help in keeping their teeth fresh and clean all day. However, brushing too frequently damages teeth and gums drastically. Brushing more than twice a day can erode your teeth’s enamel, which protects the outer layer and increases sensitivity and cavity risk. Brushing too often in a day may also worsen the gums, which may lead to their receding and exposing your teeth’s roots. Brushing twice a day, once in the morning and once before bed, with a soft-bristled toothbrush and light pressure is more than sufficient for optimum oral health.
- Biting Nails
While it seems harmless to bite your nails, it actually does a great deal of damage to your teeth and jaw. Nails are a tough part of our bodies and chewing on them can lead to cracks and chips in your teeth. Your jaw may become strained from the constant pressure needed to bite through nails, which could result in problems including jaw pain and other dental conditions. This behavior might weaken your teeth over time and harm your oral health in the long run. Avoiding biting your nails will help prevent needless damage to your jaw and teeth.
- Habit of Grinding Your Teeth
Unconsciously grinding your teeth during sleep or when you are stressed can cause significant damage over time. The friction caused by grinding gradually wears down the enamel resulting in more decay and tooth sensitivity. Moreover, grinding can shorten and flatten teeth which might cause headaches or jaw pain. If the habit continues, it may lead to long-term harm that may need to be fixed with costly dental work at Wilmington dentist. You can prevent future tooth deterioration by using a mouth guard at night and practicing stress management.
Conclusion
Even with proper care of your dental health, we unknowing to the things that gradually lead to damage over time. As we have discussed in the blog, there are many harmful ways we may cause damage to our teeth and gums. However, if we eliminate some of our habits that may lead to tooth damage, we can prevent our teeth from decaying early. At Coastal Smiles, our dedicated team of professionals is always ready to take care of your dental health and safeguard your smile. So, why wait? Take one step towards better dental health and book your consultation today!
