Bad Oral Health Habits to Break in the New Year
We are all guilty of indulging in some habits that are bad for our teeth, but there are some habits that we should strive to break as we start the new year! Whether you try to open a plastic wrapper with your teeth, or tear a tag off of your new shirt – resist the urge to use your teeth as a tool. Using your teeth in this way can crack or chip them, cause misalignment or in some cases, pull your tooth out. Your teeth are designed to bite and chew food. They are not made to bite objects such as bottle tops, fingernails, or to be used as a nutcracker.
Biting Anything Besides Food is A Bad Oral Habit
You should never chew on anything except food. Your teeth are designed to tear or crush through foodstuff, but they are not made to battle against solid, non-food items such as pens and pencils, fingernails, and ice.
Biting your nails isn’t just hard on your teeth, it damages the appearance of your hands and can also cause oral hygiene problems.
- Bacteria from under your nails can enter your mouth and make you sick.
- Chronic nail biting can cause your tooth enamel to splinter or cause your teeth to shift out of place.
- If you hold a pen or pencil between your teeth while concentrating on a problem, stop doing this!
- Biting on foreign objects can cause your teeth to crack or your bite to shift under that kind of pressure. Not to mention the kind of damage that puts on your jaw or existing dental work.
- Chewing on ice seems harmless, but it can cause serious damage to your teeth. Protect your pearly whites and let the blender crush the ice with those special blades.
Smoking is a Bad Habit All the Way Around
Smoking is bad for your overall health, but it is also harmful to your teeth and gums and causes several permanent issues that affect your oral health. Make a plan to quit smoking and stick to it! Living a smoke-free way of life is healthier for you and for those around you. There’s no better time than the new year to stop smoking and eliminate the following problems in your life. Now might be the time to break this habit! Some of the consequences that smoking causes your oral health:
- Stained teeth
- Gum disease and tooth loss
- Oral cancer
- Slow healing after a tooth extraction
- Dulled sense of taste and smell
- Dry mouth and tooth decay
Dealing with Eating Disorders
More than 28.8 million Americans suffer from some type of eating disorder. These disorders are complex in nature, and they can wreak havoc on your oral health and damage your physical well-being.
- Your gums and other soft tissues need proper nutrients from a balanced diet to be healthy.
- Poor nutrition can lead to dry mouth which lends itself to gingivitis, tooth decay, and oral infections.
- Bulimia and anorexia are often associated with vomiting which exposes your teeth to strong stomach acid. This can cause your teeth to stain, weaken, and crack.
If you are concerned about eating disorders, seek help with Dr. Angela S. Evanson, DDS to overcome this habit that is harmful to your oral and overall health.
Make an Appointment Today
Schedule an appointment by contacting Dr. Evanson online or call (720) 409-0008.
No matter what you are concerned about, Dr. Evanson will help you overcome your bad oral health habits that affect your teeth and gums. She can assess any oral damage that may exist and recommend dental treatments that will help to restore your smile during this new year!
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