Teeth are tough, hardened bone protrusions, but that does not mean they are indestructible. With age and regular use, our teeth can sustain a certain degree of wear and tear, but good oral hygiene and a high level of dental care can serve to protect them from breaking down. However, if you have certain bad habits, they can speed up the normal rate at which your teeth decay, resulting in direct tooth damage. Here, our dentist in Gainesville, FL, at Comprehensive Dental Care, discusses five surprising ways people can damage their teeth and oral health. If you need a trusted Florida DMD to help you keep your oral health high with comprehensive dental services tailored to your needs, contact our Gainesville dental clinic to schedule your appointment!
Brushing Your Teeth Too Hard
Brushing your teeth at least twice daily is critical for keeping your teeth and mouth healthy, but not all types of brushing are beneficial. In fact, your technique is just as important as the type of toothbrush you use (using soft-bristled toothbrushes over medium or hard-bristled ones). Brushing your teeth too hard is a bad habit that most people aren’t even aware they have. Applying too much pressure to your teeth with your toothbrush can wear down your enamel. Our
Gainesville dentist recommends brushing your teeth with soft, gentle, and circular motions. All you need is a small amount of contact with your teeth and the bristles in order to achieve a sparkly, clean finish.
Not Regularly Visiting Your Gainesville Dentist
When did you last visit your dentist for a regular check-up and cleaning? Patients should typically come in for dental appointments at least twice yearly unless they have more significant oral health problems requiring more frequent visits. When you skip visits with your dentist, you allow plaque to accumulate and harden, turning into tartar. Heavy tartar built up on the teeth and gums over time can result in tooth decay that can eventually lead to the need for a root canal or emergency dental services for problems that can be more complex to treat and more time-consuming to remediate.
Clenching & Grinding Your Teeth
It’s normal for people to clench their teeth when they experience anger or fear, but when it happens regularly or when they clench and grind their teeth without realizing it, it can be severely harmful to their oral health. The vast majority of people who grind their teeth have no idea they do it, or they may unknowingly be doing it in their sleep. During your dental appointment, your dentist will closely inspect your teeth and gums to determine whether or not you grind your teeth. If they determine you suffer from teeth grinding or bruxism, they will provide you with recommendations to remediate the problem, such as a custom-fitted night guard.
Biting Hard Substances
Our teeth are one of the strongest parts of our bodies. However, that doesn’t mean they are impervious to harm or damage. Often, people make a bad habit of using their teeth instead of their hands, such as to open packaging. Another common harmful habit is chewing ice. Chewing ice can seem harmless, but it’s a bad habit affecting your teeth and throat. Likewise, nail biting is another harmful habit that can cause fractures, chips, cracks, and overall damage to your teeth. Biting your nails can cause significant damage to the shape of your teeth and even result in sharp tooth pain.
Consuming Sugary Substances
We all love delicious, sweet foods, beverages, and treats. At times, it can be difficult for us to resist these items. While sugary substances may delight our taste buds, consuming them can drastically harm our teeth and our overall oral health. If you continuously consume sugary foods, treats, and beverages, your teeth can start to feel sensitive and painful, while your gums can become inflamed from possible infection. The worst types of sugary substances are those that are sticky and sugary, and they remain on the teeth much longer than non-sticky substances. If you indulge in sugary treats, be sure to brush your teeth afterward to protect them.