A beautiful smile can do wonders in winning accolades from people. However, the sparkling beautiful smile looks attractive as long as the teeth behind those smiling lips are clean and healthy. Most of us know the basic requirements to keep our teeth clean and healthy. But some people in spite of brushing their teeth twice a day and avoiding sweets and extreme hot and cold drinks, find themselves visiting their dentist quiet often. The simple reason is some careless habits which they adopt unknowingly which make their teeth suffer.
The following is a list of such mistakes we tend to make which worsens our teeth and we end up having unhealthy teeth. Read through them and stop the habits, if any, with immediate effect.
The ten grave mistakes that you should avoid to protect your teeth are:
1. Using teeth as tools
We often tend to open things with our teeth. The outcome of this is broken or chipped off tooth at the edge. The opening of bottle, or a bag of chips, ripping a price tag with the teeth etc are some of the things we do. These acts can also harm our jaw alignment, referred to as malocclusion. Always use scissors and bottle openers.
2. Eating ice often
The second thoughtless mistake that we make is chewing ice. This habit can be very addictive. The cold temperature and the hardness of the ice cube can actually cause your teeth to fracture. Ice also rips the teeth off the essential enamel. In some cases this might be so severe that you may have to go for a root canal. Avoid crushing the ice with your teeth, instead let it melt and enjoy its coolness.
3. Chewing on hard objects
We immerse in our work or thoughts so much that subconsciously we tend to chew anything that is in our hand. The most common things are pens, pencils, or similar things.Chewing hard objects can lead to fracture of teeth. Use your teeth only for chewing food and not other things.
4. Sucking lemon
Sucking lemon can also damage your teeth. The citric acid present in the lemon leaches the important minerals away from your teeth. It would thus affect the outer surfaces of your teeth. Your teeth would then become prone to cracking, chipping, and breaking. If you are consuming citric fruits, do not keep them in your mouth for too long and chew them quickly.
5. Brushing teeth too hard
Some of us brush our teeth too hard thinking that it would bring the sparkle and whiteness. This is a myth. On the other hand, brushing too hard washes off the essential enamel that the tooth requires. This also leads to teeth sensitivity and weakening of the gums.
6. Die hard habit of biting nails
Biting nails is a bad habit since it takes a toll on your dental and physical health. When you bite you nails, you are letting the germs and the bacteria enter your mouth which can cause many infections.
7. Grinding your teeth
The habit of grinding the teeth is also called chronic bruxism and it can cause various dental ailments like chipping, fracturing, loosening, and cracking of the teeth. It also leads to pain in the lower jaw.
8. Sipping white wine
White wine is not good for teeth. It leaves off a stain on your teeth and causes permanent problems as its high on acidity. This acidity in turn wears off the protective enamel of the teeth. It also gives your teeth a yellowed look.Cut short your consumption of white wine.
9. Consuming soft drinks
The soft drinks are carbonated and they make up for the most important dietary source of the decay of the teeth. It’s just not the sugar alone that is bad for your teeth, but the acids can also lead to formation of cavities.
10. Sucking thumb
This habit is most commonly seen among the small children. This is bad and must be stopped at the very beginning as this could affect the positioning of the lower and upper teeth.
Things to remember
1. Use the toothpaste which is most suitable for your teeth. Consult your dentist to know about the nature of your teeth.
2. Soft bristle tooth brushes are good for removing plaque.
3. Smaller brushes reach the insides of the mouth easily.
Frequently asked questions about teeth care
1. Is eating too much chocolates bad?
No, this is not true. Eating chocolates is bad only if you do not brush your teeth after eating chocolates. Thus you can eat chocolates, but do not forget to brush after you do that.
2. How much time should usually be spent on brushing?
Medical experts recommend to brush at least for two minutes.
3. What should be the process followed to brush the teeth properly.
The first step should be to clean the outer surface of upper and lower teeth; then inside of the upper and lower teeth and lastly clean the chewing surfaces and brush your tongue as well.
4. How often should the toothbrush be replaced?
You can replace when it starts to wear off or else change it every three months.
