Bad Habits That Harm Oral Health
At Parker & Pennington Dentistry, we want our patients to have optimal oral health. This is one of the reasons we are so passionate about routine dental care and treating problems in your mouth in a timely fashion. While we do everything we can to help your oral health, you may be unintentionally causing harm to your teeth and mouth. These are bad habits that can cause serious problems for your oral health:
Using Teeth as Tools
This is one of the most common bad habits that can cause serious damage to your teeth. It can be tempting to use your teeth to open a package, rip off a tag, or open a can or bottle, but do not do any of these things. Take the extra few seconds to find the correct tool. Using your teeth as a tool can cause your front teeth to chip and crack, leading to expensive treatments.
Chewing On Ice
Because ice is technically a food, people don’t realize they are causing serious damage to their teeth. Chewing ice can be extremely harmful to the back teeth and molars. Your teeth and existing treatments, such as a dental crown, a bridge, or dentures, can crack and break. If you have not experienced an issue yet, count yourself lucky! If you need to chew on something, try sugar-free gum.
Biting Your Nails
Not only does biting your nails introduce harmful bacteria into your mouth and body, but it can lead to cracked teeth and canker sores as well.
Clenching and Grinding Your Teeth
If we have commented that you clench and grind your teeth, we highly suggest following through with our treatment recommendation. This repeated motion can lead to worn, cracked, and broken teeth.
If you are located in Jacksonville Beach, FL or the surrounding area and are concerned that any of these habits have already caused damage to your teeth, please call our office to schedule an appointment. We can work together to come up with a dental plan that is right for you and your needs. We look forward to seeing you soon!