You take good care of your teeth: You brush, you floss, you rinse with mouthwash, and you see Dr. Chittajallu for your dental checkups…but you still have these bad habits that harm your teeth. Here’s a list of some bad habits you may want to break to save your oral health!
Crunching on Ice
It’s a habit I see many people do, but I wonder if any of them know how harmful this habit can be. Ice exposes your mouth to extreme temperature fluctuations, which on its own can actually cause your teeth to develop small fractures. But crunching on the ice itself is really harmful and can lead to larger dental problems over time. Anything that is very hard can do damage to your teeth, including chewing on popcorn kernels, hard candies, or the pits of fruit.
Using Your Teeth As Tools
Have you ever used your teeth to open a package or…dare we say it…even a bottle? Stop using your teeth as tools! Find a pair of scissors, or a knife, or even pliers, but whatever you do, leave your teeth alone! Although some of these habits may seem harmless, you are actually traumatizing your teeth and you may even be weakening the edge of your tooth, which can cause it to chip or fracture.
Grinding Your Teeth
If you wake up and notice that you have clenched teeth, or if you notice yourself grinding your teeth when you’re stressed, you may be unintentionally wearing your teeth down. Teeth grinding may be caused by anxiety, but it can also be caused by misaligned teeth or a bad bite. If you think it may be stress, you may want to try exercising or other relaxation techniques to help reduce the clenching and grinding. Alternatively, if you think it may be related to misaligned teeth or a bad bite, then come see us at Southwest Smiles Family Dentistry.
We look forward to treating you!