Bad Habits That Can Ruin Your Teeth

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A habit or practice is a consistent tendency that is challenging to break. Warren Buffett, the most successful investor of the twentieth century and an American philanthropist, said it best: "Chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to break."

Practices related to health and oral hygiene are crucial. They can make or break your overall well-being. Read about the four common practices that are ruining your teeth with us and fix your common dental problem in a jiffy.

Four Common Practices That are Ruining Your Teeth
Adult teeth are called permanent and were meant to last a lifetime. But sadly, that's not the case. Intentionally or, at times, un-intentionally our mouths are exposed to certain harmful and abusive agents.

Tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health issues are all caused by bad oral habits. They frequently begin in adolescence but can also start in adulthood. There may be a variety of bad habits, but if they are harming your health at present, it's time to stop. Here are the four common practices that are ruining your teeth:

Neglecting Oral Hygiene
Will you be surprised to hear that 'brushing your teeth every day" is just not enough? When, how, and with what you brush determine how effectively you have cleaned your mouth.

Let us answer the above questions correctly:
When should you brush your teeth?
Brush at least twice a day. Brush your teeth before bedtime, and do not eat or drink anything but water after that. The mouth produces very little saliva while the body is asleep. A dry mouth serves as a haven for bacteria and germs. Bacterial growth is accelerated when you go to bed with a dirty mouth. In many cases, this is the reason for cavities and poor breath.

If you brush your teeth well at night, you wake up with a clean mouth! Rinse your mouth with water, and you are ready for breakfast! Yes, you heard me right! If you diligently brush at night, it's advisable to brush your teeth after breakfast to keep your mouth clean until your next meal, lunch. On that note, we must say that there is no harm in brushing your teeth before breakfast as well.

How should you brush your teeth?
Not too hard! It can be detrimental to brush your teeth with all your might, horizontally and back and forth (the scrubbing motion). Gum recession and tooth abrasions can result from improper brushing. Use a super-soft toothbrush and gently brush your teeth in a swift circular motion or a slow up-and-down sweeping motion.

With what should you brush your teeth?
Use a soft toothbrush with an ergonomic handle to brush your teeth easily. You should also use cleaning adjuncts like interdental brushes, dental floss, and water flossers to clean the spaces between the teeth and around the dental bridges and crowns.

Snacking And Fizzy Drink
Frequent snacking is unhealthy in and of itself, but it becomes even more harmful when sodas and other sugary snacks are consumed. Try to replace your snacking with healthier options like fruits, dry fruits, grains, seeds, and sprouts.

Ice cream, popsicles, fizzy drinks, colas, and lemonades taste best during the summer but all of these have a lot of sugar, are sticky, and last a while in the mouth, causing cavities. Snacking mindlessly on a bag of chips and some butter cookies affects not only your blood sugar levels but also the condition of your teeth and gums.

Using Teeth As Tools
Your teeth are meant for eating, speaking, and smiling. They were not meant to be wrenches or chisels. When you use your teeth to open a bottle, cut off a price tag, or open a packet, you risk fracturing your tooth or injuring your jaw.

Smoking And Tobacco Use
Probably this could have been the first of the four common practices that are ruining your teeth. We cannot emphasize enough the fact--quit smoking, stop tobacco use! Tobacco use and smoking are seriously harmful to oral health.

They result in oral cancer, gum disease, tooth loss, and poor breath. Tobacco products contain nicotine that can discolour teeth, encourage plaque accumulation, and hinder the healing of oral wounds. It's essential to stop smoking if you want to keep your mouth healthy.

Conclusion
It is tedious to narrow down four common practices that are ruining your teeth as there are many more to go. However, quitting these four common practices that are ruining your teeth, will help you maintain your oral health for long.

Tooth decay, gum disorders, and other major oral health problems can result from not brushing and flossing on a regular basis, skipping dental checkups, and engaging in harmful habits like smoking or sugar indulgence. For a healthy smile and a happier life, it is essential to prioritise oral hygiene and adopt healthy habits.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.