n individual may brush and floss his or her teeth regularly and visit the dentist at least twice every six months. In other words, their dental care practice is excellent. However, it is possible that they have some bad habits like smoking, crunching, or nail-biting that compromises their oral health.
It is vital that they know what habits, drinks, foods and physical activities can damage their teeth and gums. Only then they will be able to make the most of their dental care practice. Although many activities can potentially harm their teeth, we have picked seven most common from them that they need to avoid.
Common oral habits that damage teeth
1. Avoid sugary food
Everyone knows that sugary food is harmful to oral health. Most of them like dried fruits and candies stick to the teeth and gums and increase bacteria in the mouth. It happens because sugar contains Streptococcus mutant bacteria that consume starch and produce an acidic layer on the tooth enamel. It gradually increases plaque on the teeth, making them prone to cavities. In this case, avoiding sugary foods is a must if you want healthy teeth.
2. Smoking
Any product that contains tobacco is harmful to the teeth, no matter how good the oral hygiene practices are. Notably, smoking increases the chances of oral-related cancers and other gum diseases. It is one of the common reasons for stained teeth as well.
Quitting or limiting smoking is essential if you want to enjoy a healthy white smile. Plus, avoiding tobacco products help maintain permanent oral standing.
3. Nail biting
Patients probably never considered nail-biting harmful for their teeth and jaws. However, recent studies have highlighted nail-biting as one of the common activities that damage teeth. The habit can lead to tooth chipping, tooth cracking, and jaw dysfunction.
4. Vigorous brushing
The harder they brush their teeth, the faster it ruptures tooth enamel. Vigorous brushing is very harmful and damages the teeth and causes gum irritation.
5. Ice chewing
Ordinarily common in children, ice chewing is another activity that damages their teeth. Ice chewing damages their tooth enamel because of its crystalline structure. It causes friction on the tooth and can break it.
6. Thumb sucking
The habit does not harm until you are an infant and teething. When people grow up and their teeth become permanent, sucking the thumb can damage the teeth alignment. It damages the teeth and invites harmful bacteria in the mouth, causing other detrimental oral diseases.
7. Snacking
Munching on snacks rather than eating full meals can damage teeth severely. It increases the risk of bacteria and cavities as people consume sugary and acidic substances regularly. Adopting a well-balanced diet is a great solution to get rid of this bad habit.
