Life in California is hectic, and it is easy to get into bad habits. Most of the time, people do not even realize that these habits are causing them harm. In the short term, these might appear to be ineffective, but they can also be dangerous for your health.
Several habits can take a toll on your dental health that you may overlook. One of the most common ones is smoking, which people think only affects their lungs. If your dental health is deteriorating, visit a dentist in Burlingame, CA, today.
Bad habits that can ruin your teeth.
- Smoking.
Using tobacco products, including chewing tobacco and smoking, can cause a number of oral health issues. These poor habits can lead to gum disease, bad breath, and tooth discoloration. Furthermore, smoking increases the possibility of mouth cancer. The best defense against these issues is the complete quitting of tobacco use and smoking.
Several methods, including counseling, support groups, and nicotine replacement treatment, are available to help individuals quit tobacco use.
- Using teeth as tools.
You can unintentionally break your teeth or hurt your jaw if you use your teeth for purposes other than what they were designed for. Using your teeth as tools for opening a bottle or cutting off a price tag may accidentally crack or chip your tooth. Keep proper equipment with yourself for such purposes, such as a bottle opener and scissors.
- Biting your nails.
One of the most common habits in today's world is biting one's nails, which, over time, can be harmful to your teeth. Your mouth also gets exposed to germs and bacteria underneath your nails. Nail biting can seriously harm the structure of your teeth, and once it does, you will begin to feel severe tooth pain. To make sure you have a healthy and strong set of teeth, it is always recommended to stay away from such a harmful habit.
- Chewing ice.
Chewing ice may not seem like something that can damage your teeth. However, this bad habit can destroy your teeth. Teeth can break or crack due to the hard, cold texture of ice, which can result in additional dental health issues. Chewing on hard ice can damage your mouth's soft tissue, which can cause soreness and pain. If you find yourself chewing on ice frequently, consider sipping drinks without ice or using a straw to break the habit.
- Thumb sucking.
Thumb sucking after the emergence of permanent teeth can alter your child’s tooth and jaw structure. To make sure your child’s tooth develops normally, keep their hands busy and teach them about the risks associated with thumb sucking.
If any of these habits have caused damage to your teeth, book an appointment with your dentist today!
