Bad Habits that are Ruining Your Teeth and Gums

Tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss are common dental problems that affect millions of people. The causes of these dental problems are bad habits that damage our oral health. Listed below are some bad habits that can damage our oral health.

• Nail Biting

This bad habit can chip and break your teeth over time. It can also potentially cause infection in the gums and even jaw problems. It also affects your bite alignment. If left untreated for a long period of time, it can even affect the overall quality of your life. To stop the habit, try distracting yourself when you have the urge to bite your nails. You can also consider putting a bitter-tasting polish or cream on the nails to make them taste unpleasant when you bite on them.

• Smoking

Tobacco is harmful to more than just your lungs. It also impacts your oral health. Your gum tissue can become discolored when you smoke, and bad breath is a common side effect of tobacco usage. A more serious effect is oral cancer, which is a serious form of cancer that can affect the mouth. If you smoke and notice any unusual sores or lumps in your mouth, you should visit our office for an oral cancer screening as soon as possible. And quit the habit at the earliest, for good.

• Aggressive Brushing

When you brush too hard, you risk damaging your enamel and irritating your gums. The bristles on your toothbrush are designed to protect your smile from harm; however, they can only do so much when they aren't used properly.

• Teeth Grinding

Tooth grinding is a common problem that can negatively impact your oral health in a variety of ways. Grinding your teeth can lead to tooth fractures, changes in your bite alignment, and headaches or jaw pain. If you grind your teeth at night and do it often, it can even lead to temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ). Fortunately, your dentist can prescribe a nightguard to protect your teeth from damage due to nighttime teeth grinding. The nightguard will be custom-made to fit your teeth. 

• Using Teeth as Tools

Your teeth are for chewing food. They are not meant for opening bags, tearing things apart, or sharpening pencils. If you need to open a package or a lid on a jar, use scissors or another object instead. This will prevent your teeth from getting chipped or broken. Similarly, do not use your teeth to tear open packages, envelopes, paper, plastic packaging, etc. These tasks are best left to items with sharp edges. Otherwise, you will chip your teeth and/or break them.

• Not Visiting The Dentist Regularly

People often postpone their visits to the dentist until they feel pain or discomfort in their teeth. However, regular visits are important because they can detect and prevent several oral health problems before they turn into major ones. For example, a dentist can diagnose the early stages of tooth decay at an earlier stage and suggest a treatment plan for preventing and treating it. If a patient does not go to the dentist despite having toothaches, then the condition could get worse and lead to tooth loss. Scheduling regular appointments with your dentist can help to reduce its risk and keep you smiling confidently.

Similarly, most dentists take an X-ray of your mouth once every three years. These images can show signs of oral cancer, gum disease, and other serious conditions that are invisible to the naked eye. A dentist can also conduct an oral cancer screening during a routine checkup to make sure all tissues in the mouth are healthy.

If a person does not visit the dentist for a routine checkup, then he or she cannot benefit from these preventive services. It is better to visit the dentist every six months than to wait for an emergency situation to arise before seeking treatment.

We request you schedule a consultation with our team of dental experts to get all your oral concerns addressed at the earliest. Please call us at (435) 713-0096 or schedule an online consultation, and we'll be happy to help.