COMMON HABITS THAT ARE TERRIBLE FOR YOUR MOUTH

Good oral habits are essential for healthy teeth and gums. Good habits include brushing your teeth regularly, flossing, eating nutritious foods, and visiting your dentist regularly. On the other hand, certain bad habits can damage our oral health. Here is a list of them.

• Nail Biting

Nail biting is a common bad habit that has many dangers to our oral health. Nail biting can cause your teeth to shift and chip. It can also crack or break a tooth, causing more problems in the future. In addition to affecting your smile, the habit may damage your jaw as well. Some people who have a habit of chewing on their nails experience jaw pain or even headaches. If you start to notice these symptoms in your day-to-day life, you should visit your dentist right away to get the appropriate treatment you need. If you bite your nails often, you should make a conscious effort to stop, or else this bad habit can worsen over time. One of the best ways to do this is to remind yourself every time you have the urge to bite your nails by practicing mindfulness meditation techniques. You can also try chewing gum instead since chewing is also a good stress reliever.

• Smoking

In addition to oral cancer, tobacco products increase your risk of gum disease and tooth decay. Smokers have a higher risk of tooth loss than non-smokers. They are more likely to have implant failure, dry mouth, tooth discoloration, and other issues with dental implants. This is because tobacco decreases blood flow in your gums, decreasing your body's ability to fight infection and heal itself. Smoking also worsens existing oral diseases, such as periodontitis, by delaying the healing process and damaging your periodontal tissues.

The chemicals in smoke can also stain your teeth yellow or brown. It's hard to remove these stains once they're there, so it's best to avoid them in the first place! In fact, quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your oral health. Ask your dentist about nicotine gum or lozenges to help you quit. If you use tobacco in any form, ask your doctor or dentist for advice on how you can quit for good. Taking charge of your dental health will help prevent serious complications down the road!

• Aggressive Brushing

If you brush your teeth with much force, you are damaging the tooth enamel that holds the teeth together. Using an aggressive brush on your teeth can also wear away at your gums, which hold your teeth in place so that they don't fall out. For the best results, brush your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush, using a pea-sized amount of ADA-approved toothpaste. Be sure to replace your toothbrush every three months or so.

• Teeth Grinding

If you grind your teeth on a regular basis, you may be damaging them. The enamel on your teeth is the hardest substance in the body, but over time it can be worn down and eventually damaged from regular teeth grinding. This can lead to tooth sensitivity or cavities. If you wake up feeling tired every morning and think you grind your teeth in your sleep, try wearing a mouth guard at night to protect your teeth from further damage. Your dentist may prescribe a night guard if they know you are a chronic teeth grinder.

• Not Visiting Your Dentist Regularly

It's common for people to delay or avoid going to the dentist unless they have a dental issue. However, it's important to remember that the longer you wait between visits, the more likely it is that you'll need extra treatments to avoid further damage and decay to your teeth. You may even develop symptoms of gum disease, such as bleeding gums or persistent bad breath. All of these issues can be avoided by seeing your dentist at least every six months for a check-up and cleaning.

If you don't follow regular care of your oral health needs, your teeth will eventually become damaged to the point that they need to be extracted. Your smile will thank you if you stick to a routine of twice-yearly check-ups!

Ken Caryl Dentistry offers the best dental services to maintain your healthy smile. For more details, call us at (303) 973-5280 or visit The Courtyards at Deer Creek 7631 Shaffer Pkwy Suite B, Littleton, CO 80127.