7 Common Habits That Can Harm Your Teeth

You may be doing damage to your teeth without even knowing it. In dentistry, patient education is very important as it can prevent oral diseases. We often develop habits that may seem harmless but in reality these can be very damaging for your teeth and gums. Do you bite your nails or suck on lemons or even use your teeth to open cans, then you may be doing harm to your pearly whites. Some of these habits may cause immediate damage like chipping or cracking your tooth, but more often the effects are not immediately noticeable. They do gradual harm to your dental health over time. Here are seven common habits that may be hurting your teeth so put an end to them for the sake of your dental health.

# 1 Too Much Sugar or Soda Consumption

Almost everyone knows that sugar is a major threat to your oral health and the longer it stays in your mouth, the more damage it can inflict. The oral bacteria in your mouth that lead to cavities feed off sugar particles and produce acid, which corrodes the enamel of your teeth. Do you have the habit of munching on cookies or keeping cough drops in your mouth? Or do you drink a lot of carbonated drinks? The effects of soda on teeth are well documented with problems like decay around the gum line and loss of teeth enamel. It is absolutely vital to control bacterial growth in your mouth and besides by practicing proper oral hygiene and controlling your sugar consumption. Avoid foods like chocolates, jelly candies, sticky toffees which stick in your teeth longer than other foods. When you get a sugar craving next, try fresh fruit or dried fruit such as raisins instead. Sugar can be found even in chewing gum and breath mints.

#2 Hard Brushing

Swishing With Mouthwash For Protection

Mouthwash doesn’t get a lot of press and except for the advertisements promoting fresh-breath relief you don’t get to hear much about their other benefits. However, mouthwash is just as important to oral health as toothpaste. Mouthwash helps to kill bacteria and can offer additional protection to your mouth, teeth and gums. They help keep your mouth clean and fresh.

Mouthwash can help reduce your risk of gum disease by fighting plaque causing bacteria, but it can’t do it alone. Mouthwash cannot replace your other oral hygiene tools like a toothbrush and floss. Mouthwash is great for rinsing away food particles missed by brushing and flossing, it fights cavity causing bacteria and freshens your breath. After brushing and flossing thoroughly, mouthwash can swish through the small cracks and spaces between your teeth and gums, further removing food particles, and providing fluoride to the areas your toothbrush can not get to. But don’t be under the impression that a few seconds of swishing and gargling with mouthwash is the same as a dental visit.

Types of Mouthwash