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Your teeth can get damaged due to a number of reasons. Some of these habits are quite easy to break, and some may seem difficult. Habits like nail biting may seem harmless. But constant nail biting can cause serious damage to your teeth. Similarly, there are bad habits like smoking, caffeine, and alcohol consumption that are harmful to your teeth.

• Nail biting

Nail biting is most common among children and adolescents and can affect both their oral and physical well-being. Nail biting is often caused by stress but can also be a reflection of boredom or anxiety. In addition to causing damage to one’s front teeth, nail biting can cause other serious health issues like tooth damage and skin infection. It can also result in receding gums and tooth loss. The best solution for stopping this bad habit is to avoid it in the first place. It may be helpful to talk to a dentist to find out the cause of your impulse to bite your nails and find other ways of dealing with stress and anxiety. To break the habit, try keeping your hands busy by doing things like knitting, doodling, or chewing gum. Wearing gloves or covering your hands with socks can help as well!

If you’ve tried all these strategies and you still can’t stop biting your nails, consult a doctor, as they can recommend strategies to help you overcome your problem.

• Smoking

Smoking is one of the worst habits when it comes to oral health. Not only are cigarettes filled with chemicals that can cause cancer and other health problems, but the habit is also bad for your teeth. It can cause yellow-brown stains on your teeth and bad breath that’s hard to get rid of. Although smoking can be a difficult habit to break, your dentist will be more than happy to talk to you about quitting and give you tips to make the process easier.

• Teeth grinding

If you grind your teeth, this is called bruxism. This condition can wreak havoc on your dental health by wearing down your tooth enamel and causing problems with your TMJ joint. Both of these things can result in pain while chewing and even changes in the appearance of your smile. Wearing a mouthguard at night can protect your teeth from the effects of bruxism.

• Using teeth as tools

Using your teeth as tools is also not good for your oral health because it leads to chipped or broken teeth and damaged tooth enamel. If you use your teeth to open bottles or packages, you can chip or break a tooth. Whether you’re opening packages with your teeth or using them as scissors to open plastic bags, it’s important to avoid this habit. Your teeth are meant for eating and chewing food and not for opening packaging materials.

• Brushing teeth aggressively

Many people think that brushing more forcefully and more often is more effective in cleaning their teeth. However, this misconception can actually cause more harm than good to our oral health. Most dentists recommend that we brush our teeth gently for two minutes twice a day with a toothbrush with soft bristles.

• Not visiting the dentist regularly

Not visiting dentists on a regular basis can harm our oral health. The most obvious reason to see a dentist on a regular basis is that it allows us to catch and treat any developing issues that may be occurring in the mouth. If we fail to address a small cavity now, it will likely become a much larger issue later and will require more involved care to address the problem. Additionally, if a patient doesn’t visit their dentist regularly, it means that they will be less likely to have their teeth cleaned, which is an essential component of proper dental hygiene. Without routine cleanings, patients are much more likely to develop cavities and gum disease.

Schedule an appointment with Premier Dental Group HI to learn more about good oral care habits. Contact us from your nearest location or visit our website to book an appointment.