Are you wrecking your teeth without even
knowing it? If you suck your thumb or suck on lemons, you’re doing your pearly
whites wrong. And did you know that biting your nails is not only bad for your
fingers, it can actually hurt your teeth, too?
While some of these dental health
“don’ts” can do immediate damage to your teeth (by cracking or breaking them),
the effects of others may add up over time, harming your dental health in the
long run. So put all 10 of these bad habits to rest — for your teeth’s sake.
Thumbs Down on Thumb Sucking
Children who still suck their fingers
or thumbs after their permanent teeth start coming in — usually around the age
of 5 or 6 — could be causing permanent changes that affect tooth and jaw
structure. Specifically, thumb sucking can cause a misalignment of the teeth, explains Richard Price, DMD, a retired dentist from the
Boston
Lay Off the Lemons
People who suck lemons may be putting
their dental health in jeopardy. Why? Lemons are very acidic, says Elisa Mello,
DDS, a cosmetic dentist at NYC Smile Design in New York City
Don't Brush Too Hard
Brushing your teeth regularly is part of good oral
hygiene, but if you brush too vigorously, you can cause more harm than good.
Brushing your teeth too hard can wear down enamel, irritate your gums, make
your teeth sensitive to cold, and even cause cavities. To avoid these problems,
Price recommends using a soft bristled toothbrush. "Just look for the
letters ADA
Refrain From Jaw Clenching and Tooth Grinding
For some people, stress can trigger
frequent clenching of the jaw or grinding of the
teeth. "There is a severe amount of pressure on your teeth
when you do that, and you can get microfractures or actual fractures in your
teeth," warns Dr. Mello. Microfractures are weakened areas in your teeth
that puts them at risk for further damage. Jaw clenching or tooth grinding can
also damage dental work.
Do You Crunch on Ice? Cool It
Ice cubes may seem harmless, but Price
has these words of advice: "Beware of the killer cube." The cold
temperature and the hardness of ice cubes can cause serious damage to your teeth. "Our teeth are
designed to crush through things, not against something," says Mello. Even
though crunching ice with your teeth may be easy, keep in mind, says Price,
that "your blender needs special blades to crush ice."
Your Teeth Are Not a Tool
Many people use their teeth to break
off a tag on clothing, rip open a package of potato chips, or even unscrew
bottle tops. But according to Price, teeth are meant to help us do three
things: Chew food, speak properly, and look better when we smile. "Teeth are not pliers, teeth are not hooks,"
he says. Using your teeth as a tool is a threat to dental health and can damage
dental work or cause your teeth to crack.
Don't Park Your Pencil Between Your Teeth
Some people have a habit of holding
objects — such as pens, pencils, or eyeglasses — between their teeth when concentrating on a difficult
task. But they might not realize how much pressure they’re placing on their
teeth as they bite down on a non-food object, says Mello. Biting on a pen or a
similar object can cause your teeth to shift or even crack. "[It can also]
break existing dental work that you have in your mouth," warns Mello.
Boycott Nail Biting
Biting your nails doesn't just harm the
appearance of your hands — it can also damage your teeth and become an oral hygiene issue. "People who bite their nails usually do it
chronically," notes Mello. Regularly biting your nails can cause your
teeth to move out of place. In addition, nail biting could potentially cause
teeth to break or tooth enamel to splinter.
Say No to Soda
Always have a soda on hand? Carbonated
drinks can be bad for your teeth, because they tend to be very acidic. "Even if it's
diet, the acidity of [soda] is just corroding your enamel," Mello says.
The effects of soda on teeth are even worse if you slowly sip it over a long
period of time. "People don't realize they are bathing their teeth in acid
for an hour," she adds. The acidity in soda can lead to dental health
problems such as decay around your gum line and loss of enamel.
Use Toothpicks Carefully
When used properly, toothpicks can help
keep the areas between your teeth clean. "If you do it carefully, [using
toothpicks] is helpful," says Mello. "If you don't, you are going to
hurt your gum tissue."
So be careful not to get too aggressive with that toothpick in your quest for
oral hygiene. According to Mello, nothing you do to your teeth or gums should
ever hurt — if it does, it may be damaging your teeth.
