6 Teeth Damaging Habits You Never Knew About
How many of you have accidentally chipped a tooth? (Don’t worry we won’t judge!) The truth is it’s easier to do than one might think; we’ve had patients come in with broken teeth because of everything from a dancing accident to an innocent snack of pita chips. But most important to know — and avoid — are the common bad habits that will make your smile more likely to crack. So, to help you stay informed and your smile bright we’ve ranked these habits from least to most damaging. Check them out below:
1. Scrubbing Those Pearly Whites Too Hard
Everyone knows you need to brush your teeth, but not everyone knows how. Many people favor stiff-bristled toothbrushes and scrub their teeth and gums aggressively in an effort to fight plaque. But brushing this hard causes abrasions on the enamel of the teeth and especially around the roots and gums where the enamel is softest. Are your teeth sensitive to cold drinks? To sweets? Are your gums irritated? Scrubbing your pearlies to hard may be why.
Break the Habit:
- Invest in a soft bristled toothbrush; this will be gentler on your teeth.
- Brush your teeth with small gentle circles. Remember, you’re polishing your teeth, not sanding them.
2. Using Your Teeth as the Tools They Aren’t Meant to Be
Our teeth are definitely tools, and very important ones at that. How else would you masticate on delicious turkey, potatoes and stuffing? (We’re craving Thanksgiving fixings too). But when the football game comes on make sure you’re not using your teeth to open those beer bottles — that’s a one way ticket to the emergency dental clinic. Of course most of us don’t use our teeth to open things quite that difficult. But just using the teeth to rip open that bag or bite off that plastic tag from a new holiday sweater can lead to fracturing and chipping.
Break the Habit:
- If you find yourself using your teeth as tools fairly often, we suggest you invest in a multitool to keep on your person.
- If you use your teeth as tools only on occasion, we suggest that you take the time to reach for a pair of scissors or a bottle opener. Using your teeth may seem like a timesaver in the moment but it’s not worth the money you’ll need to spend later.
3. Nibbling Your Nails Down to Nubs
Nail biting is one of the most common and constant nervous habits people engage in; it acts as a coping mechanism and often chewers are unaware of it when its happening. This makes nail biting both a difficult habit to break and extremely damaging. Nibbling for hours on end forces the jaw to protrude past its natural position and can lead to jaw dysfunction or TMJ; hard nails and especially ones with polish can fracture tooth enamel; and chewing damages the soft finger cuticle and exposes the mouth to the bacteria on the hands.
Break the Habit:
- Nasty tasting nail polish is a great solution. You have to be aware of your habit before you can break it and icky nail polish reminds you every time you put your fingertips to your lips.
- Find new activities to occupy your fingers, for example a stress ball. Keep your hands busy and your nerves calm.
- Engage in some stress relieving activities such as meditation, walking, deep breathing, etc. These will help ease the temptation to chew by making you feel more relaxed.
4. Grazing Constantly On Those Irresistible Cravings
Snacking isn’t necessarily a bad thing. What is bad is snacking on sugary treats all day. Even if you’re not eating candy, chances are the nutrition labels on your goodies will list a fair amount of sugar. Many of us crave sugar throughout the day and of course in moderation it’s fine, but most people miss the mark. In fact the average American consumes more than twice the daily recommended amount of sugar, and everyone knows that this is the most common cause of cavities and tooth decay. And, even worse, eating sugary snacks puts you at a higher risk for periodontal disease which causes the deterioration of both gums and bone.
Break the Habit:
- Avoid snacking by eating more balanced meals to keep you full throughout the day.
- Replace sugary snacks with healthier nutrition rich alternatives like fruits, nuts, and vegetables.
- Ditch the soda, juice, and energy drinks and opt instead for water. These drinks have lots of acid and sugar that coat the teeth and eat away at your enamel. If you do drink them, use a straw.
5. Grinding Your Molars and Clenching Your Jaw
This is another habit caused by stress or anxiety and most often happens at night while sleeping. It is particularly dangerous because of the strength of the human jaw; our muscles are able to bite down with more than enough force to crack our cuspids. Just like grinding can smooth rough stones, it can also flatten molars and negatively affect a person’s the ability to chew and digest properly. Patients who come in complaining of pain while chewing and difficulty opening their mouths suffer all suffer from this bad (and often unknown) habit that gets worse when people are stressed or angry.
Break the Habit:
- When something grinds your gears, don’t let it grind your teeth too. Stay aware: every time you notice yourself grinding, stop! We recommend relaxation exercises to relieve the stress causing you to clench. For example, squeezing a stress ball is a good alternative since it still allows you to clench some muscles — just healthier ones.
- If you’re also a night grinder .. Pure willpower and awareness won’t cut it. We suggest you schedule an appointment with us to talk about a nighttime mouthguard to help protect your teeth and jaw while you sleep.
6. Chomping Down on Your Favorite Ice Cubes
Ice cubes are hard. Really hard. They may not be rocks but they’re definitely hard enough to break your teeth if you chew on them. Doing so causes microscopic fractures in the tooth enamel and these multiply and grow with every cold crunch. Ice cubes are the cause of many a fracture and chewing even increases the risk for tooth decay.
Break the Habit:
- Go European and order your drinks without ice to avoid the temptation to chew.
- If you find you’re drawn to the action of chewing, substitute a better alternative, for example, carrots or sugarless gum.
- If you’re really craving those cubes, it may be because of an iron deficiency, anemia, other another nutritional deficiency. Schedule an appointment with a doctor to talk about the possibility of these and a solution that will work for you
Good luck and happy habit breaking!
Dr. Nathanson and the Team at Gentle Care Family Dentistry
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