Seven Bad Habits That Are Damaging Your Teeth

Sometimes, regular dental visits and good oral hygiene at home are not enough to prevent tooth damage. An unhealthy diet of sugary foods or drinks, and even tobacco use, can compromise your oral health. So, how do teeth get damaged, and what oral habits should you avoid to preserve your smile? At Advanced Dentistry of Centre County in State College, PA, our team strives to educate patients on improving their oral health. We have picked seven of the most common activities that potentially harm your teeth and what you need to avoid.

What oral habits could be damaging your teeth?

It is essential to know what habits, like consuming certain foods and drinks, or activities, could be hurting your oral health. Even though most children, during their formative years, engage in some form of thumbing sucking habit, it can damage developing teeth, surrounding oral tissues, and a child's bite or occlusion. In most cases, fixed or removable orthodontic appliances can successfully treat tongue thrusting or thumb sucking issues. However, it is important to know if this oral habit persists beyond developmental age, it could cause long-term damage to teeth. Read on to learn more from Advanced Dentistry of Centre County about seven other oral habits that could damage teeth in State College, PA.

1. Sugary foods or treats

It is a known fact that sugary treats or drinks can be harmful to your dental health. Sugar causes bacteria in the mouth to convert to an acidic layer on the tooth enamel. It gradually increases plaque, making teeth prone to tooth decay if left untreated.

2. Nail biting

Recent studies have shown that nail-biting can damage tooth enamel. The oral habit of nail-biting can lead to teeth cracking or chipping, and even jaw misalignment.

3. Tobacco use

It is a fact that yellow teeth from smoking are a cosmetic issue. However, smoking also increases a person's risk of gum disease, tooth decay, and oral-related cancers. Tobacco use of any kind is harmful to your teeth and gums.

4. Chewing ice

Ice chewing is another oral habit that can damage teeth. It causes friction on the tooth enamel, which can lead to chips or cracks.

5. Aggressive brushing

Brushing too hard can rupture tooth enamel, leading to "pits" or holes in the surface. Vigorous brushing can also cause gum irritation. The harder a person brushes, the faster it deteriorates their oral health.

6. Frequent snacking

Snacking throughout the day increases the risk of harmful bacteria and tooth decay forming as individuals consume unhealthy foods or sugary treats. Adopting a healthy diet of three meals a day can be a great way to get rid of this bad habit.

7. Teeth grinding

Grinding your teeth at night or bruxism is a hard habit to break. In most cases, patients don't realize they are even doing it. However, our dental team at Advanced Dentistry of Centre County can provide a custom mouth guard to wear while sleeping to protect your teeth from this condition.

Your dental health is important

Good dental hygiene goes beyond what you might think. The three components of regular dental visits, avoiding certain harmful oral habits, and daily brushing and flossing, can improve your oral health. If you have a dental concern or need a dentist in State College, PA, then Advanced Dentistry of Centre County can help. Contact our practice and schedule an appointment with one of our dental experts today.