You plan meals, grab drinks, and play sports without having any details about the effect on your teeth? But you might not realize how food, beverages, and activities can wreck the health of your pearly whites.
Here is a list of some of the worst Dental Habits:
- Food & Drinks Intake
Increased consumption of citrus fruits, fizzy drinks, sports drinks, and alcohol can severely damage teeth over a period. These foods and drinks can cause acid erosion which is characterized by thinning and destruction of the tooth enamel.
This can lead to an increase in sensitivity and pain symptoms as well as increased susceptibility to decay. The condition is non-reversible.
- Overzealous brushing
Heavy brushing over a long period of time with a hard or medium bristled toothbrush contributes to recession of the gums. It can ruin the surface of the teeth themselves. These can lead to severe symptoms of pain and sensitivity. It is necessary to restore these teeth with a filling material to reduce the symptoms & effects of abrasion.
Tooth grinding is common and doesn’t discriminate according to age. Children are just as likely to grind their teeth as adults, but in adult’s stress is often an influencing factor. Unfortunately, many patients who suffer from this condition are unaware of it.
These people do not realize they grind or clench as they are usually doing it subconsciously or in their sleep. They do not recognize until they are informed by a dentist or doctor that they have signs of this in their mouth.
In severe cases of tooth grinding, patients can crack their teeth, fracture existing restorations and wear down the surfaces of the teeth.
- Chewing Ice
Ice is water, water is natural, and water is good for you. Chewing on ice may seem like a harmless activity. It does not have any sugar or calories. However, chewing on ice often results in cracked and chipped teeth, damage to tooth enamel, problems with existing dental work such as fillings and crowns, and sore jaw muscles.
You may also find your teeth become extremely sensitive to hot and cold drinks and foods, and are more prone to cavities.
- Smoking
If gum disease left untreated it progresses to a form of the disease known as advanced periodontitis. This is characterized by significant bone loss and the loosening of the teeth. Nicotine also yellows teeth and can lead to oral cancer.
Therefore, if you engage in one of the above bad habits for your teeth, you are probably engaging in several. This compounds the problem. While one occasional bad habit might not hurt your teeth, several together can combine to create real trouble. Make sure that you get a dental check-up every six months to ensure you keep smiling.
- Mouth Breathing:
Mouth breathing is when a person breathes using his mouth instead of the nose. Gingival inflammation, enlargement and plaque formation are most commonly seen in the upper front regions of the gums in such cases. The gums appear red and swollen.
The cause for this is dehydration due to constant air exposure. Chronic mouth breathing can lead to a long, thin face sometimes termed “long face syndrome”. It also leads to crowding of teeth. It could be caused due to an anterior open bite.
Expert opinion
Dr. Jena Shah Dental Director of Sabka dentist says “Brushing right after the meal also not good to the teeth. Consider brushing your teeth at least after an hour after you had a meal”.
Dr. Ankita Gada Dental Director at Sabka dentist says “Smoking has a well-known adverse effect on general health. Smoking is directly linked to the progression of gum disease”.
Dr. Reena Waghela Dental Director of Sabka dentist says “If you have Dental problems consult your dentist. The regular Dental checkups will help you to identify the habit that is causing you dental difficulties”.
0 thoughts on “Dental Health Disruptors”
a very well written article Must read it