Chewing ice cubes is one of those bad habits that many people don’t think about
Breaking bad habits is challenging, but it makes a world of difference when you learn to control them. It’s common knowledge that activities such as smoking, eating unhealthy foods, and not brushing your teeth or flossing can harm your teeth. However, some bad habits, people don’t think about as much. Here are five that may shock you.
Biting Your Nails
Nail-biting can chip your teeth. Our nails are composed mainly of keratin, a hardened protein. Chewing on our nails forces shearing on a localized area of our enamel and cause chipping to occur. It also has an impact on your jaw. When you place tension and pressure on your jaw for a long and continuous time, it can cause jaw dysfunction. Solutions include reducing stress. Also, hold something in your hands to help you focus on something else and distract you during situations that trigger nail-biting.
Bruxism (Teeth Grinding)
Bruxism can cause teeth to chip or crack as well as jaw, joint, and muscle pain. A night guard is the best solution to help with this. Also, just like with nail-biting, it helps to reduce anything in life that causes you stress.
Eating Ice Cubes
The texture of your enamel is hard, and so are ice cubes. When you push two hard surfaces together, it causes tension. The best solution is to drink chilled beverages without ice or use a straw so that ice cubes are not directly touching your teeth. Using these techniques also help with tooth sensitivity.
Using Your Teeth to Open Things Instead of Using Your Hands or the Proper Tools
Only use your teeth for eating. We don’t recommend using your teeth in place of scissors. When you do, you run a higher risk of cracking your teeth, jaw injury or swallowing a particle. A solution for this is sitting things down if your hands are too full or asking for help when you need it.
Over-Aggressive Toothbrushing
Most people understand that they should brush their teeth at least twice a day. However, it would be best if you also focused on how you brush your teeth. Always be gentle and use soft bristles. You don’t want to harm your teeth and gums. A common misconception is that the harder you brush your teeth, the cleaner they’ll be, which isn’t true. Take care of your teeth and be kind to them. Many of today’s electric toothbrushes have pressure sensors that monitor over-aggressive brushing with light indicators. If over-aggressive brushing is a concern of yours, it may be time to invest in one of these new tech-savvy brushes!
Come to Smile Designs of Olney for All of Your Cosmetic Procedures
For your smile makeover or any other dental needs, come to Smile Designs of Olney! Book an appointment with us. Whether you want your teeth whitened, straightened, or restored altogether, we pride ourselves in quality patient care and giving you the smile makeover that you deserve. Our small, professional staff will make you feel right at home. We service the Montgomery County regions including Olney, Laytonsville, Brookville, Silver Spring, Rockville, Columbia, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and Germantown, MD. Contact us at (301) 260-0700, visit us online, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube.