Bad Habits That Can Affect Oral Health
At Kewaskum Family Dentistry, we want to help our patients achieve optimal oral health. Unfortunately, there are times when patients do not help themselves in achieving this goal. Certain habits can negatively affect your teeth and mouth. Even patients who have beautiful, clean teeth succumb to harmful dental habits from time to time. We want to take a moment and share some habits that you may not realize are affecting your teeth.
Using Teeth as Tools
When it is difficult to open a package or cut a tag, it can be tempting to use your teeth instead of
looking for the proper tool. Unfortunately, using your teeth as a tool can lead to serious damage, such as a cracked or broken tooth.
Chewing on Non-Food Items
Many people have a habit of chewing their fingernails or chewing a pen cap when they are working. Similar to using your teeth as tools, doing this repeatedly can damage your teeth. Although it technically is a food item, chewing on ice can also be extremely harmful to your teeth.
Brushing Too Hard
You may think you are helping your oral health by brushing your teeth vigorously; however, if you are too harsh, you may be doing your oral health a disservice. Brushing too hard can cause damage to your tooth enamel. Eventually, you may experience tooth sensitivity, decay, or other issues.
Clenching or Grinding Teeth
When you clench or grind your teeth, you can cause serious issues that can lead to long-term problems. Repeated clenching and grinding episodes can create problems like cracked teeth, headaches, and jaw discomfort, ultimately leading to TMD.
If you have one of the habits mentioned above, it is time to break the pattern before you break or damage your teeth. If you experience a dental emergency or have any questions about the habits mentioned above, please don’t hesitate to contact our office located in Kewaskum, WI. We would love to help you!
