Six Little Known Causes Of Tooth Damage
You're probably already aware of the fact that not brushing enough and consuming sugary foods are bad for your teeth. However, there are a lot of other ways to damage teeth. You might not be aware of the fact that some of your seemingly harmless habits are damaging your teeth.
The following are six little-known causes of tooth damage.
Over-brushing or brushing excessively hard
Brushing regularly is essential for ensuring dental health. However, it's important to realize that you can brush too hard. You don't want to put too much pressure on your teeth when you brush them.
Brushing too hard can cause your enamel to erode. You should gently brush in a circular motion. You should also use a brush with soft bristles rather than hard bristles to protect your enamel.
Chewing on ice
A lot of people assume that chewing on ice is a harmless habit. However, this is not the case. Chewing on ice could potentially crack your teeth or wear them down.
You should avoid biting down on any extremely hard items that aren't really meant to be chewed such as ice. Chewing on sugar-free gum is a much better idea if you want to chew on something.
Having a tongue piercing
It might surprise you to learn that having a tongue piercing might not be the best thing for your dental health. That's because a metal piercing can harm the gums when it rubs against them. As gum damage progresses, it can eventually lead to tooth loss.
Taking cough drops very often
Some people have a habit of consuming many cough drops during the winter cold season. However, a lot of cough drops aren't very good for your teeth. Many unfortunately contain a great deal of sugar.
If you need to take cough drops to relieve cold symptoms, look for sugar-free options to protect your dental health.
Not brushing after consuming acidic substances
While it's widely known that sugary substances are bad for the teeth, fewer people are aware of the fact that acidic foods such as citrus fruits can be bad for one's teeth. That's why you should try to avoid consuming too many acidic foods and beverages.
If you do consume acidic foods and beverages, you should brush your teeth or at least rinse your mouth out with water afterward.
Snacking frequently
Another bad habit that you might not associate with dental health is eating a lot of snacks between meals.
Snacking can be bad for your teeth because your mouth doesn't produce as much saliva when you snack as it does when you eat a full meal. Saliva production is important for cleansing the teeth as you eat.
You'll be less likely to get food particles that can cause dental issues stuck in your teeth if you eat a few full meals a day rather than frequent snacks.
For more information visit your local dentist.