There are hundreds of do’s and don’ts that all patients are supposed to abide by in order to take care of themselves. And while a lot of these guidelines are relatively obvious, like getting regular exercise and sleep, it can be tricky to remember all the precautions or navigate your way through them all. This is especially true when it comes to dental health.
Dental health can be a little daunting to manage if you’re just beginning, as dentistry is a more unknown branch of medical practice to the general population. Folks know they need to brush their teeth, floss every day, and pay semi-regular visits to the Dentist In North Hollywood office. But what else can you do in your day to day life that can help protect your teeth?
To get you moving in the right direction, here’s a list of the top four surprising habits that could be damaging your teeth without your knowledge.
Not Drinking Enough Water
We know that drinking water is important to remain hydrated and feel our best, but did you know that drinking plain water is actually also essential for dental health? This is because a dry mouth is an optimal place for bacteria to fester and grow. When bacteria take over, it is more likely that you’ll develop cavities.
Choosing regular water over a sports drink or other more sugary beverages is also paramount because water rinses sugars away from your teeth as opposed to taking on more. Plus, fluoride is commonly found in water, which helps stave off cavities.
Biting Your Nails
This one is a doozy. So many people get in the habit of biting their nails at a young age and have trouble growing out of it as they get older. The habit often stems from stress or being overly fidgety and is discouraged by parents and teachers because of exposure to germs and general etiquette. But nail biting actually has damaging effects on your jaw as well.
That’s because when you bite your nails it puts your jaw in a protrusive position, meaning that the lower jaw bone projects out in a way that isn’t natural. This repetitive motion can add stress to the structure of your jaw and wear away at your jaw bone. Plus, nail biting can chip teeth!
Eating Acidic Foods
People that consume a lot of high acid foods and drinks can damage their enamel far more easily than others. Acidic foods and drinks, such as citrus-based juices and coffee, can leave lasting damage to the structure of your enamel, making your teeth more sensitive and leaving them unprotected against cavity-causing agents like sugar.
If you are going to eat high acid foods regularly, make sure you’re brushing your teeth with a pro-enamel toothpaste before you consume the products to best defend yourself. You can also visit the website valleyridgedentalcentre.com to get some great suggestions about what toothpaste to buy and what foods you should never eat.
Chewing Ice
Noshing on ice cubes is a bad habit that many folks find addictive. If you happen to drink a beverage and catch an ice cube in your mouth, your best bet for the safety of your teeth is to spit it out or let it dissolve before swallowing. Ice is hard and extremely cold, and the combination can be deadly for your teeth. This is especially true if ice is chewed regularly.
Ice is known to cause breakage in your teeth and fillings and can have lasting damages on your dental health with over-sensitivity and jaw pain. At the end of the day, it is far better to avoid the ice chips and drink your water at room temperature.
Really, before reading your post i have no idea about these bad habits for teeth. I am also biting nails and eating all foods. Dentist Midtown clinic in Houston is good.
ReplyDeleteOhh..nice blog about healthy teeth. I am really don't about these dental issues. But now i get the teeth issue with my teeth. Cosmetic Dentistry Services is good dental care to get best dental treatment.
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