A habit is a routine that we just cana��t break. A�Nail biting, procrastinating and watching too much TV are all examples of bad habits many people find hard to change. And the hardest thing about habits is that they are usually unconscious! We may not even realize we are grinding our teeth, but anyone who has taken a dental assistant course will notice right away from the wear on the tooth enamel. A�While any habit, conscious or otherwise, is difficult to break, doing so can greatly improve your oral health!
Smoking
Smoking is one of those a�?consciousa�? habits that is not just harmful but severely addictive. Most people who smoke are aware of the long-term health effects on their body – but what about their teeth? Smoking affects all aspects of your oral health including your gums, teeth, throat and breath. Here are a few of the dozens of health conditions that smoking can cause for your mouth:
- Oral cancer
- Stained teeth
- Decreased jaw bone density
- Bad breath
- Salivary gland inflammation
- Higher risk of gum disease and tooth loss
Teeth Grinding
Teeth grinding is one of those unconscious habits many of us find difficult to avoid. This condition a�� also called bruxism by those in dental assistant careers – often occurs in a patienta��s sleep. Dentists find that teeth grinding is most common in patients who have crooked teeth or an overbite. Since teeth grinding usually happens in sleep (though it can be triggered by stress in the daytime), be wary of morning-after symptoms such as a sore jaw – this is a sure sign that you’ve been engaged in this bad habit during the night. A�To avoid side effects such as loosened teeth and wearing down of the enamel, teeth grinders should consider wearing a mouth guard to bed.
Sports Drinks After a Workout
By now ita��s well-known that just because a beverage is labelled as a sports drink, does not at all mean ita��s healthy. Some research has even shown them to be as unhealthy as soda! Thata��s because these drinks are loaded with sugar, and actually contain acids which wear away the enamel of the teeth. On top of this, many athletes are dehydrated when they chug these drinks, meaning their mouths contain less saliva to wash away the sugars. All of this leads to increased plaque and acids which perpetuate tooth decay. For a smarter option – stick to water!
Using Your Teeth as Tools
How many of us have used our teeth to open a package, rip a price tag off clothing or even unscrew bottle caps? This is one of the most cringe-worthy habits for those in dental hygienist school a�� mostly because ita��s so preventable. Putting immense strain on your teeth to avoid looking for the scissors can lead to cracked or chipped teeth and a trip to the dentist.
Sucking/Chewing on Cough Drops
Medicine companies would love to have us think that because cough drops sooth our throat, theya��re also healthy for us. Wrong a�� cough drops are actually loaded with sugar and are just as bad for your teeth as a lollipop. Sucking on these sugary drops a�� or worse, biting them a�� all day long can lead to increased plaque and enamel-eating acids on your teeth.
A similar bad habit is chewing ice. Some people do it because they enjoy the crunch or even just the coolness of the ice a�� but there is no doubt that it is an atrocious habit for your teeth. Habitual ice chewing can cause tooth aches and wearing of enamel. Most professionals recommend you opt for sugar-free gum when the cravings to chew arise.
What bad tooth-habit have you been trying to break?
