Bad Habits That Are Bad For Your Teeth And Overall Oral Health
Most people have heard about habits that are bad for their teeth and overall oral health. You may have been told growing up about how bad chewing or smoking tobacco is for your teeth. However, there are some habits that can harm your teeth and overall oral health that many people are unaware of being bad. Check out some of these habits you may have right now that can have a negative effect on your teeth and overall oral health.
Biting Your Nails Can Hurt Your Teeth And Jaw Alignment
While biting your nails may seem harmless, you should know it can have a negative impact on your teeth and jaw alignment. When you bite your nails every day, the pressure you place on your teeth can cause them to chip. Nail biting can also cause your law to jut out as you are chewing, an act that when repeated over and over can create alignment problems for your jawbone. Also, if you bite your nails, you are at a higher risk of a condition called bruxism. Bruxism describes tooth-grinding that many people do while they are sleeping and are unaware of when gritting and grinding their teeth while awake because it has become an ingrained habit. If you are having a hard time stopping your nail-biting habit, try painting them with bitter nail polish. If you bite your nails when nervous, carry around a small ball to hold in your hands to help you keep your hands busy and your fingers nails out of your mouth.
Avoid Chewing Ice And Other Hard Foods
Chewing ice and hard candies can chip the enamel off your teeth and cause them to become more vulnerable to bacteria that cause cavities. Try drinking cold drinks without ice or use a straw and immediately dump any ice out of your drink so you won't be tempted by it. Replace hard candies with raw vegetables like carrots or radishes. If you must have something sweet, try sugar-free chewing gums that are formulated to not stick to your teeth.
Munching And Snacking Throughout The Day Can Harm Your Teeth
Many people munch throughout the day on snacks like cookies or candy bars. While you may be worried about snacking all day putting pounds on your waistline, you should know that munching on sweets throughout every day can have a detrimental effect on your teeth. If you are snacking at work, you may not have an opportunity to brush your teeth after snacking, so all that sugar is making its ways into your teeth. Sugary foods are notorious for causing cavities when you are unable to brush and floss as often as necessary for removing it from in between your teeth. If you need to snack during the day, try fresh raw vegetables like broccoli and celery sticks.
Caring for your teeth and oral health is important because oral care will help you maintain greater overall good health.