In order to keep your teeth in good condition, you need to follow good oral hygiene. However, brushing, flossing, and eating healthy food may not be enough to keep your teeth in good conditions. At times, certain habits can have a significant impact on your teeth and they can chip them as well. To help you prevent chipping your teeth, you should be aware about them. The following are some bad habits that wreck your teeth.
Chewing Ice
Chewing ice can cause permanent damage to our teeth by developing small cracks in the enamel. This can ultimately cause a tooth fracture and you will have to visit a dentist to get the cracks fixed. Hence, you should avoid chewing ice and make it a point to avoid ice cubes in your drinks.
Not Wearing Mouthguard while Playing
If you are a sportsperson and play regularly, it is definitely recommended that you get a mouth guard to protect your teeth from hard blows or any impact on your face. According to the American Dental Association, mouth guards prevent 200,000 sports-related mouth injuries every year. Therefore, wearing a mouthguard is as important as wearing a helmet and other protective body gear while playing.
Opening Lids and Packets with Your Teeth
This may be an easy task to do and you may open packets using your teeth often, but this will lead to dental issues. If you do not have healthy gums, your tooth may come out. Even if you have strong gums you may end up with a cracked or chipped tooth and it can be extremely painful. Hence, avoid using your teeth for any other purpose apart from biting and chewing food.
Teeth Grinding
This habit is a subconscious or an impulsive habit which is difficult to get rid off. It weakens the teeth and makes them prone to fractures and cracks. This may be an unavoidable habit but one can visit their dentist and ask for a custom mouth guard which can be applied before going to sleep. This flexible piece of plastic is designed to prevent your teeth from touching each other and thus, prevent any grinding.
Chewing on Pencil Tops
This habit is common among students and office workers. It can lead to the cracking and chipping of teeth due to loss of enamel.
Now that you are aware of habits that wreck your teeth, make sure you avoid them. However, if you ever happen to chip your teeth, then it strongly recommended that you visit a dentist who can immediately help you fix your teeth problem.