Bad dental habits have a profound effect on your overall health. They can lead to gum disease and tooth decay and contribute to or worsen periodontal disease. They can also cause bad breath and mouth sores, leading to an unpleasant experience while brushing and missed work due to a lost day of productivity that could be spent doing something much more productive. What is the best way for people who struggle with bad dental habits? Here is what you should do:
Brushing Too Hard
Brushing too hard can wear away your teeth’s enamel and cause them to become more sensitive and chip or crack a tooth completely. If this does happen, you will have to see a dentist immediately. You could lose a tooth in as little as one day without treatment from a dentist. Although brushing too hard can sometimes feel good because it seems like it is doing its job well, it is ultimately not only ineffective but harmful.
Instead, you can use a soft-bristled toothbrush that has been designed to be used with a little bit of pressure. These brushes are designed to be gentle on the teeth, making it possible for them to do their job without causing damage or wear. An electric toothbrush is an excellent replacement for manual brushing.
Flossing Too Much
Over-flossing can damage your gums and could also lead to an infection in the gum. This can cause swollen, painful gums and bleeding of the gums. It is essential that you only floss as close as possible to the gum line so as not to open up any wounds in or around your gum line.
So, instead of flossing too much, do it once to twice daily and never more than seven days in a row. This will allow for healthy teeth and gums to develop so as not to have them at risk for decay or gum disease. Also, avoid flossing between your teeth and instead focus on cleaning the insides of each tooth through good brushing to prevent any damage that may occur.
Too Much or Too Little Toothpaste
The recommended amount is 1/50th of an ounce for each toothbrush bristle. This should be done for each brush that you use. Using much less than the recommended amount puts you at risk of developing decay because there is not enough fluoride in your mouth. Also, by overusing toothpaste, you are allowing too much fluoride to stay in your mouth for an extended period, which could cause fluorosis to develop later in life and damage your gums and teeth due to the abrasives that are often found in commercial toothpaste.
If you have a bad dental habit of using too much or not enough toothpaste, try using natural toothpaste made with ingredients that are as close to nature as possible and very gentle on the teeth and gums. Look for something like natural toothpaste that is sweetened with xylitol and contains fluoride to prevent tooth decay and damage to your teeth.
Smoking
Smoking is one of the most common bad dental habits that people who wish to improve their oral health struggle with. It causes extensive damage to your teeth and mouth, leading to discolored or stained teeth, gum disease, halitosis (bad breath), and even periodontal disease. Smoking also can cause excessive tooth wear, which you should see a dentist about before it becomes so severe that you lose a tooth.
Although quitting smoking may be difficult at first, it is possible. Some nicotine replacement products are available, as well as many apps that can help you get over the hump in quitting smoking.
Grinding your Teeth
Grinding your teeth can become an annoying dental habit that many people have struggled with for years. It not only causes damage to the teeth and gums, but it also can lead to sensitivity in the teeth on which you are grinding. This means you may grind at night without even knowing it, causing severe pain throughout the day.
By avoiding grinding your teeth, there will be less strain on your teeth and gums, and the sensitivity of the teeth you are grinding will be reduced. A night guard fitted in your mouth can also help the teeth you are grinding to stop from being damaged.
Chewing Ice
Chewing ice can not only damage your teeth but also lead to the development of cavities. The chewing action is abrasive and can make your teeth chipped, cracked, or broken. The cold temperature can cause gum recession due to its freezing cold temperature. Also, pieces of ice can get stuck between your teeth and under your gums, causing an infection you will have to treat with antibiotics to help you recover as quickly as possible.
Instead of chewing on ice cubes, chew sugarless gum with xylitol so as not to damage your teeth and promote their health through remineralization.
Nail Biting
This bad habit is extremely harmful to your teeth and gums, as it can cause chronic gum disease and periodontal disease. This can lead to an infection in the gums of your mouth that can further damage diseased teeth. If you get an infection, you will need antibiotic therapy for it to heal and start working as soon as possible.
Instead of doing this, keep your nails short, so they do not accidentally stick into your mouth during the day while you are brushing or using your teeth at night while sleeping. If you have difficulty biting or chewing on them, try to stop immediately. If you are not able to stop soon enough, talk to our professionals about these dental habits, and we will help improve your oral health.
Using Your Teeth as Tools
When you use your teeth as a tool for picking up objects, like paper clips or that needle you need to sew on a button or mend a tear in your clothing, you risk damaging your teeth. This is because they are not equipped to handle the pressure and stress created by these situations. If it is necessary to use your teeth this way, try to only bear down with one tooth at a time instead of all of them.
Chewing on Random Objects
Chewing on objects that you should not chew on is a bad habit. You might be chewing on your thumb, the pen you’re holding, or a stray string from your shirt. As you can imagine, this can lead to bad breath and an increased risk of dental decay.
There are other things you can chew on to help train yourself not to chew on something you should not. Try chewing gum to help train your mouth to not chew on random objects. As soon as your mouth craves chewing, start chewing the gum. The taste will keep you from wanting something else, like a remote, an eraser, or a foreign object that will get stuck in your teeth.
Constant Snacking
This is a prevalent and bad habit for many people. If you are constantly eating snacks or drinking sugary and acidic drinks, you are at an increased risk of developing cavities, tooth decay, and other dental problems.
One way to break this habit is to cut out one of your snack times. For instance, if you usually have a snack around 10 in the morning, cut that time out and instead try having a healthy lunch with some fruits or vegetables. This will allow your body to digest the food and give yourself time before eating again in the late afternoon. Eating a balanced diet will also help you improve your overall health.
Remember
The primary reason bad dental habits exist is that people are unaware of what they are doing wrong and how they can improve their oral health through good dental habits. It is important to note that everyone has the potential to develop bad habits and that you are not alone in these habits.
With that being said, you should start the process of improving your oral health by developing good habits. Be sure to schedule regular dental checkups with us, and you will be able to improve your oral health and that of your family by equipping yourself with knowledge about how to make a change for the better in terms of oral health.
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