Everyday Habits That Damage Your Teeth

Do you think you take pretty good care of your teeth? You brush twice each day and floss on a daily basis... but you may still be causing damage to your pearly whites. There are a number of everyday habits that can potentially damage your tooth's enamel and your mouth as a whole. Your trusted dentist in southern Missouri has provided some of the things you should avoid! Take a look below to ensure you're taking care of your pearly whites.

Eat Foods with High Acidic Level

Especially in the summer months, there are plenty of tasty treats filled with acid. From pineapples to oranges to lemons, it's important to monitor your acidic food intake. This acid can get onto your teeth and start wearing down your enamel, the protective layer on your teeth.

Chew on Ice

If you crunch on ice in your drink, it's a habit that you should try to break right away. Consider drinking beverages with already crushed ice or no ice at all. Chewing on ice can lead to chipping in teeth or cracking a tooth, which can be very painful.

Biting Your Nails

While biting your nails is mainly though as being hindering your fingernails, it can also damage your mouth and teeth. Aside from the excess bacteria found under your fingernail (which you're putting in your mouth), the hard substance can cause damage to your pearly whites.

Nervous Chewing Habits

If you tend to chew on pens or other objects when bored or nervous, this is a great time to start breaking that bad habit. The foreign objects in your mouth can cause damage, because it is not intended to chew on. From chipping teeth to cracking sealants, there are a number of ways chewing on objects can cause damage to your mouth.

Brush Teeth Too Hard

While brushing your teeth is very important, brushing too hard can cause damage to your teeth and gums. Try to apply pressure lightly, when brushing your teeth. Pressing the bristles into your teeth and gums can damage the enamel on your teeth and cause your gums to bleed.

Use Teeth as a Tool

Opening objects with your teeth is a no-no! Teeth are intended to chew food, not open cans or bags of food, or anything else that you  may use them for. Avoid using your teeth for anything other than chewing your food, to avoid chipping or cracking a tooth!

Drink Sugary-Filled Beverages

Many Americans indulge in a can or more of soda each day. While this may be though of as a treat, it's no treat for your mouth. The added sugar combines with bacteria naturally found in your mouth, clinging to your teeth and wearing away at the enamel layer that protects your smile.

Grinding Teeth at Night

If you grind your teeth, it actually wears down the surface of your tooth. It's important to stop this habit as soon as possible to avoid further tooth damage due to the constant grinding. Mouth appliances can be worn to avoid tooth grinding against tooth.

Now that you know what habits to avoid, you can start taking better care of your teeth. It's important that you take care of your pearly whites, after all you only get one set of permanent teeth in your lifetime. If you do happen to damage a tooth, Access Dental & Dentures has a number of solutions for you. We even offer custom-fit dentures for the feel and appearance of natural teeth, should you need it. Whether you have a chipped tooth or missing teeth, the best dentist in southern MO is here for you! We look forward to helping you and your family smile with pride!

We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile!

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