Access Dental: Avoid Damaging Teeth With Bad Habits

Thursday, August 24, 2017

Bad Habits to Break for Healthier Teeth

While we focus on good oral care habits most of the time, it's also important to know the damaging effects bad habits can have on your teeth. If you are looking for ways to improve the overall health of your teeth, this is a great blog for you to read! You may know some of these habits can cause damage to your teeth, but others may be news to you. As your trusted dentist near Springfield, MO, we've dedicated this week's blog to focus on bad habits you should work on breaking right away.

Nail Biting

Biting nails is an easy way to invite bacteria into your mouth. Aside from unnecessary amounts of bacteria, biting your nails can also damage your tooth. Chipping teeth and negative impacts on your jaw muscles and bones are caused by this bad habit. To avoid further tooth damage, work to find a way to relieve the urge to bite your nails.

Chewing Ice

Any hard substance chewed between your teeth can cause damage, ice included. It can put pressure and end up chipping the tooth surface or fillings you may have. To avoid this habit, consider drinking chilled drinks without ice or use a straw when drinking a glass filled with ice.

Consuming Sugary Drinks

Soda and other sugar-filled drinks can cause unnecessary damage to your tooth's surface. Bacteria thrives when sugar is found in the mouth. This can lead to the decay of your tooth's protective layer, enamel. Cavities come along after the enamel covering has been damaged and this can cause tooth decay and other oral issues. Swap out your sugar-filled drinks for a refreshing glass of water.

Grinding Teeth

Many people will grind their teeth as a nervous habit or while they sleep. If you do this. it's can cause surface damage to your teeth. Chipping or cracking of your tooth surface is another side effect of teeth grinding. Try to relax in other ways to avoid tooth grinding.

Use Teeth as a Tool

Teeth are made for eating, not a tool. Avoid opening items with your teeth. Whether you're ripping open a package or bending something, your teeth are not to be used. A tooth breaking or chipping is often a side effect of using your teeth for an unintended purpose. To avoid this bad habit, make it a point to not use your teeth as a tool and take the time to find the proper item to accomplish your task.

Now that you know more about these habits that are bad for your teeth, you can work to improve your oral health. While we've talked about bad habits above, it's important to replace these kinds of habits with ones that are good for your mouth. Strive to brush your teeth twice every day and floss once a day. It can also be helpful to drink plenty of water and stay hydrated. Eating a well-balanced diet is another way to improve your oral health. Lastly, a regular dental check up is important to regulate your mouth. Give Access Dental and Dentures a call today to schedule your next appointment!

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

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Springfield Office Rolla Office Osage Beach Office Mountain Grove Office
(417) 501-1048 (573) 426-5447 (573) 348-1466 (417) 926-1160
1701 West Sunshine 416 S. Bishop Ave. 4320 Osage Beach Pkwy 921 N. Main St.

Springfield, MO 65807 Rolla, MO 65401 Osage Beach, MO. 65065 Mountain Grove

Thursday, June 8, 2017

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!

Springfield, MO 65807 Rolla, MO 65401 Osage Beach, MO. 65065 Mountain Grove