Fighting tooth decay is an endless battle and you have to stay vigilant in order to keep it at bay. Even if you brush your teeth and visit a dentist regularly, there are some bad habits you may indulge in that can have some very serious consequences for the health of your teeth. No matter how many times you brush, floss and visit a dentist, these habits can undo all of the hard work youve put in.
Here is a disturbing statistic; more than one fourth of Americans over the age of 65 lose all of their teeth. Not a few teeth here and there, but every single one! One tooth-destroying habit is using your teeth to pry off bottle caps or other hard objects. If you want your teeth to remain intact for a long time, then it would be wise to stop doing this, even if your friends and family think its entertaining. Another habit you might not think is harmful is chewing on ice. Crunching down on ice cubes may be enjoyable, but it can cause tiny fractures in your tooth enamel. Over time, these cracks grow and lead to more severe dental problems. Popcorn kernels fall in the same boat as ice cubes and it would be smart to avoid crunching down on them as well.
Many people grind their teeth, either in their sleep or as a nervous habit. Either way, it is very bad for your teeth. Over time, grinding or clenching your teeth can lead to discomfort and loosening of your teeth. Clenching and grinding your teeth can also cause cracks to form and wear away your enamel. When the enamel is worn down, the dentin is exposed. This leads to higher tooth sensitivity and soreness in the jaw bones and muscles. If you visit a dentist regularly, then they may be able to detect the problem early on and give you a mouth guard to wear when sleeping. If you grind your teeth as a nervous habit, then it is a good idea to focus on eliminating the stress or anxiety that is causing you to grind your teeth in the first place.
You may think that the harder and more vigorously you brush your teeth, the better it will clean them. In actuality, brushing your teeth too hard can be very harmful for your teeth and your gums. Brushing too hard will wear down your gums and open up tiny holes for germs and bacteria to thrive in. Brushing too hard or using a stiff-bristled tooth brush can also wear down your tooth enamel over time and expose the layer of dentin underneath. This leads to increased tooth sensitivity and can make eating your favorite foods, such as ice cream, a miserable experience.
This should go without saying, but chewing tobacco and smoking are very bad for your teeth and your mouth in general. Nicotine can yellow your teeth and lead to oral cancer. Chewing tobacco is even worse and is very bad for your gums. Over time, it can lead to gum disease and gum cancer, among other serious ailments.
Gladstone Family Dentistry is a caring and professional West Linn family dentist. They take great care of your teeth and can help you avoid and break bad habits so that hopefully you wont have to buy a set of dentures when you turn 65.
Here is a disturbing statistic; more than one fourth of Americans over the age of 65 lose all of their teeth. Not a few teeth here and there, but every single one! One tooth-destroying habit is using your teeth to pry off bottle caps or other hard objects. If you want your teeth to remain intact for a long time, then it would be wise to stop doing this, even if your friends and family think its entertaining. Another habit you might not think is harmful is chewing on ice. Crunching down on ice cubes may be enjoyable, but it can cause tiny fractures in your tooth enamel. Over time, these cracks grow and lead to more severe dental problems. Popcorn kernels fall in the same boat as ice cubes and it would be smart to avoid crunching down on them as well.
Many people grind their teeth, either in their sleep or as a nervous habit. Either way, it is very bad for your teeth. Over time, grinding or clenching your teeth can lead to discomfort and loosening of your teeth. Clenching and grinding your teeth can also cause cracks to form and wear away your enamel. When the enamel is worn down, the dentin is exposed. This leads to higher tooth sensitivity and soreness in the jaw bones and muscles. If you visit a dentist regularly, then they may be able to detect the problem early on and give you a mouth guard to wear when sleeping. If you grind your teeth as a nervous habit, then it is a good idea to focus on eliminating the stress or anxiety that is causing you to grind your teeth in the first place.
You may think that the harder and more vigorously you brush your teeth, the better it will clean them. In actuality, brushing your teeth too hard can be very harmful for your teeth and your gums. Brushing too hard will wear down your gums and open up tiny holes for germs and bacteria to thrive in. Brushing too hard or using a stiff-bristled tooth brush can also wear down your tooth enamel over time and expose the layer of dentin underneath. This leads to increased tooth sensitivity and can make eating your favorite foods, such as ice cream, a miserable experience.
This should go without saying, but chewing tobacco and smoking are very bad for your teeth and your mouth in general. Nicotine can yellow your teeth and lead to oral cancer. Chewing tobacco is even worse and is very bad for your gums. Over time, it can lead to gum disease and gum cancer, among other serious ailments.
Gladstone Family Dentistry is a caring and professional West Linn family dentist. They take great care of your teeth and can help you avoid and break bad habits so that hopefully you wont have to buy a set of dentures when you turn 65.
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