Many people are guilty of using their teeth to do things they are not supposed to do – opening bottles, biting and trimming nails, crushing ice and clenching are only a few of them. Unfortunately, bad dental habits can be dangerous for your oral health and putting an end to them will help you maintain healthy teeth for longer.
At Harley Street Dental Clinic, we appreciate that bad dental habits are not easy to stop – especially if you have been performing them for years unconsciously. However, our experienced dentist in W1 will help you get over them and never be tempted to repeat them again.
Sipping, crunching and sucking
If you have been sucking or biting the leftover ice from your drinks, you need to stop. Ice cubes are cold and brittle and they can cause your teeth to crack, chip or even break if you are not careful enough. Moreover, ice cubes can cause tiny fractures on the surface of your teeth, encouraging bacteria to enter your tooth enamel. Other foods that put unnecessary pressure on your teeth include popcorn kernels and fruit pits. Sipping sugary drinks can also have the same effect on teeth and this is particularly important for babies who should never be left with a bottle to sip on. If you cannot quit one of these habits on your own, your dentist in W1 can help by providing a mouth guard.
Smoking
This may seem like an obvious habit to avoid, but many people are not aware of the consequences of tobacco on their teeth and gums. Smoking not only causes bad breath but can also compromise your taste buds and encourage gum disease. Moreover, smoking can cause bone loss in the jawbone and oral cancer. If you find it difficult to quit smoking, your dentist in W1 can offer smoking cessation information.
Grinding your teeth
Grinding your teeth can be damaging your tooth enamel and can even cause jaw problems. Often people grind their teeth when they find themselves in stressful situations, leading their teeth exposed to decay. Speak to your dentist in W1 about dental options available to lessen the effects of grinding your teeth (e.g. a mouth guard or stress-reducing exercises).