Many people want to have a beautiful healthy smile. However, they don't pay sufficient attention to their bad habits. The point is that there are a lot of factors that can worsen the condition of your teeth and gums. In this article, we have gathered eight bad habits that can affect your smile.
1. Poor oral hygiene
If you want to have strong and healthy teeth and gums, you need to brush your teeth twice a day and use dental floss at least once a day. You should understand that food particles, dental plaque, and bacteria that linger in your mouth can lead to bad breath, tooth decay, gum disease, tooth discoloration, and many other issues. That's why proper oral hygiene is so important.
2. Aggressive tooth brushing
Even though thorough tooth brushing helps remove as much dental plaque and food particles as possible, aggressive tooth brushing can work vice versa. The truth is that people who brush their teeth aggressively can scratch and remove their tooth enamel. This can result in increased tooth sensitivity and tooth discoloration. Additionally, it is better to use a toothbrush with soft bristles since stiff bristles can also affect your tooth enamel.
3. Wooden toothpicks
Many people tend to use wooden toothpicks to remove food particles that get stuck between their teeth. But you should know that these toothpicks can easily scratch your tooth enamel and injure your gums. If you need to clear your interdental space, it is better to use dental floss or floss picks.
4. Coffee addiction
Coffee addiction can make you visit a cosmetic dentist for teeth whitening more often. The point is that coffee is an acidic drink that also contains dark pigments. Due to the fact that acids soften your tooth enamel, these pigments can get deeper into your tooth enamel and make it look dark. That's why it is better to limit coffee consumption or at least have it with milk. Milk reduces acidity and provides you with calcium.
5. Nail-biting
Nail-biting is an extremely common and dangerous habit that can cause a lot of trouble. On the one hand, you can scratch your tooth enamel and puncture your gums with a strap piece of a fingernail. Additionally, dirt and bacteria under your fingernails can enter your oral cavity and bloodstream through the punctured gum and lead to infection. On the other hand, you can bite through the skin and nails.
6. Gnawing hard objects
One of the most common bad habits is gnawing hard objects. For example, some people chew the tip of a pen or pencil while working or during a telephone call. Other people tend to gnaw ice cubes while drinking ice water. The point is that gnawing hard objects can lead to tooth fractures, chipped teeth, scratched tooth enamel, and gum injuries. That's why it is essential to get rid of such a harmful habit as soon as possible.
7. Teeth grinding
Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, is a condition in which a person clenches (grinds) their teeth. Some people grind their teeth subconsciously during sleep (sleep bruxism) while others may clench their teeth when they are stressed, bored, or anxious (awake bruxism). Teeth grinding can lead to enamel wear, increased teeth sensitivity, chipped or fractured teeth, loose teeth, jaw pain, and headaches. Mouthguards can help you cope with teeth grinding at night but if you have awake bruxism, you need to control yourself.
8. Smoking
Smoking is deemed one of the most dangerous habits that can affect not only your smile but your overall health as well. People who smoke often have bad breath, stained teeth, and tartar accumulation. Additionally, smokers are more prone to gum disease. So if you want to have a healthy smile, it is better to quit smoking as soon as possible.
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