3 Things You May Not Know Are Harming Your Oral Health
We do all we can to help you look your best and feel good about your oral health. This is why we are passionate about maintaining your routine hygiene examination and scheduling any recommended treatments in a timely fashion. Unfortunately, some of the patients we see do not always have the best habits and make poor decisions that end up harming their oral health. While some patients experience immediate problems, others can expect to have issues in the near future. We want to share some common habits that can harm your oral health. Read on to learn more.
Habits That Are Harmful to Your Oral Health
We want to take a few moments to share some habits may be harming your oral health so you can make the necessary changes as soon as possible:
Using Your Teeth as Tools
If you are opening a package or cutting a tag, it can be tempting to use your teeth to move the process along. We encourage you to take a few extra moments and use the appropriate tool for your needs. Your teeth should be used to eat, chew, and bite food and nothing else. Using your teeth inappropriately can damage them, causing cracked and broken teeth.
Chewing on Ice
Although ice is made of water, it is one of the most harmful things you can chew. Tooth enamel, the outside covering of the tooth, is the strongest substance in the body, but it can be damaged if you’re not careful. The pressure needed to chew ice can cause uneven wear of tooth enamel as well as crack or break your teeth.
Snacking Throughout the Day
Each time you eat, you introduce bacteria into your mouth. Bacteria linger on and between your teeth until you remove it by brushing and flossing, and even then, not everything is removed. The harmful bacteria that are left behind can lead to problems with decay. This is one of the reasons we suggest only eating at mealtimes. This is also the reason we recommend choosing water over a sugary soft drink or other beverage that’s high in sugar.
If you are concerned that any of these bad habits have already caused damage to your teeth, please call our office located in Terre Haute, IN to schedule an appointment. We can work together to come up with a dental plan that is right for you and your needs. We look forward to seeing you soon!
