Bad Habits That Can Damage Our Dental And Oral Health

Good oral hygiene is crucial for keeping your teeth healthy. Practicing good oral hygiene can prevent cavities, gum disease, enamel wear, and more. Listed below are some common habits that can cause damage to our oral health. 

• Not brushing or flossing regularly

It is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once a day using the right technique. Even if you brush and floss your teeth every day, you could still be doing them more harm than good. Brushing too hard or using too much pressure can wear down tooth enamel, irritate gums and even cause gum recession. And flossing too vigorously can cause bleeding gums, receding gums, and loose crowns.

You can protect your smile by brushing twice a day for two minutes each time with a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste that contains fluoride. In addition, be sure to use proper technique when brushing. Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle; gently move the bristles back and forth in short strokes across each tooth, and use a soft touch to avoid irritating your gums.

Floss at least once a day to remove plaque and food debris from between teeth and under the gum line. Use a fresh piece of floss for each tooth and gently guide the floss between the teeth using a back-and-forth motion. If you experience bleeding when you floss, try wrapping the ends of the floss around a wood or plastic pick instead of your fingers to give yourself more control.

• Teeth grinding

Grinding your teeth at night is a bad habit that can lead to a number of oral health concerns, such as chipped teeth and gum recession. If you grind your teeth at night, your dentist may recommend a custom night guard to help protect your teeth from damage at night. A custom night guard is a mouthpiece that fits between the top and bottom rows of teeth and prevents them from coming together. The mouthguard is made from durable material that can withstand the force of clenching and grinding. Night guards are custom-made to fit comfortably inside your mouth and prevent damage to your teeth.

• Using teeth as tools

It’s normal for teeth to experience some wear and tear as we use our teeth every day to chew food. However, there are times when we subject our teeth to more than they can handle by using them as tools instead. Examples of this include:

• Opening soda cans with your teeth
• Breaking off bottle caps with your teeth
• Chipping ice from an ice tray with your teeth
• Opening packages with your teeth

All of these actions put a lot of pressure on our teeth and can cause them to become damaged or cracked. In addition to damaging the tooth itself, these activities can lead to damaged braces or other dental appliances as well. That’s why it’s so important to moderate the use of your teeth to avoid causing any further damage!

• Not visiting the dentist regularly

Visiting the dentist for regular checkups and cleanings is one of the most important parts of maintaining good oral health. During regular visits, we will clean your teeth to prevent the buildup of plaque and tartar, which can harm your teeth and gums. We will also examine your mouth for signs of dental problems, such as cavities, gum disease, oral cancer, and more. If we find a potential problem during a checkup, we will recommend the appropriate treatments to fix it as soon as possible. Regular visits to our office can also help us catch any potential problems before they become severe. If we do find a problem, we can treat it before it worsens and causes more damage to your oral health. By coming in for your regularly scheduled cleanings and checkups, you can look forward to a healthier smile!

Dr. James Thurber DDS, located in Lubbock, TX, has modern amenities and the latest technologies that enable the best dental care facilities for patients. Call us at (806) 745-6644 and book a consultation with the dentist.