Could your everyday habits be damaging your teeth? We use our teeth every day to eat, but those other things you use teeth for might be causing harm.
Chewing on ice: While ice is sugar and calorie-free, chewing on ice can crack your teeth over time. The pressure that occurs when you bite down on the hard surface of ice irritates the tissue inside the tooth, which leads to toothaches.
Grinding your teeth: Constant teeth grinding or jaw clenching can wear your teeth down over time. Talk to your local dentist about getting fitted for a mouth guard to help prevent teeth grinding at night.
Cough drops: While cough drops soothe your sore throat, they are also loaded with sugar. The sugar interacts with the plague on your teeth and lead to the breakdown on the enamel, which causes cavities. Make sure you brush and floss your teeth after consuming cough drops.
Soda: Similar to the cough drops, soda contains large amounts of sugar per serving and acids that eat away at the enamel of the teeth. You may switch to diet sodas in order to avoid the sugar, but without sugar there is a higher acid content that in turn hurts the enamel just as much.
Using your teeth as a tool: While your teeth are a convenient tool, it is one of the worst things you can do to your teeth. Teeth are for eating not opening packages or chewing on your nails.
Constant snacking: When you snack frequently during the day your mouth produces less saliva than if you were to eat 3 meals a day. By producing less saliva, more food is left in your teeth over time. Snack, but snack healthy: avoid sugary and starchy foods to keep your teeth healthy and clean.
Drinking coffee: Drinking coffee frequently can lead to a yellowing of the teeth. Due to the dark color and acidity in coffee, your teeth pay the price when it comes to whiteness. Thankfully yellowing due to frequent coffee use is one of the easiest stains when it comes to whitening. Talk to your dentist about whitening treatments or at-home remedies that may work for you.
Smoking: Tobacco use can lead to gum disease, which can stain your teeth and make them fall out. Also, frequent smoking/chewing of tobacco can lead to various mouth-related cancers such as: mouth, lips, and tongue.
Wine: Wine contains high amounts of acid, which leads to the breakdown of enamel. Red wine contains a deep pigment that sticks to your teeth easily, leading to the discoloration of your teeth. White wines still contain the enamel damaging acid, but being of light color does not stain your teeth as much. It is recommended to swish with water or brush with a mild whitening toothpaste after the consumption of wine to minimize the damage done to your teeth.
Contact us today if you have any concerns about the habits of yours that could be damaging your teeth!
