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Our teeth are important; they help us chew and digest our food and speak properly. Our teeth also help us look good when we smile. But, if they are not taken care of properly, they can become damaged. Listed below are some bad habits that are bad for oral health and also cause tooth damage.

• Nail Biting

Sometimes people bite their nails because they feel nervous or stressed. However, this is a bad habit that can cause a lot of damage to your teeth and gums. Biting your fingernails can lead to cracked and damaged teeth, as well as tooth sensitivity. It can also affect your jaw joint and cause pain in your TMJ.

If you have this habit often, you might also experience skin and mouth infections. For this reason, it’s important that you avoid this oral habit as much as possible. 

If you’ve already been experiencing problems with your teeth because of nail-biting, you should talk to your dentist about treatment options like veneers or dental crowns. These will help protect your teeth while also improving the appearance of your smile. Your dentist will also be able to give you tips to help you stop biting your fingernails so that you can get relief from your symptoms and prevent further damage in the future.

• Smoking

You shouldn’t smoke cigarettes or cigars at all if you want to maintain good oral health. Tobacco happens to be one of the most devastating substances for your oral health and overall health in general. It causes bad breath, discoloration of your teeth as well as mouth sores. Moreover, tobacco is also associated with oral cancer, gum disease, tooth loss, and many other serious oral and overall health problems.

If you already suffer from such a condition, you should pay your dentist a visit. He will be able to recommend the best treatment for your particular case based on the severity of your case.

Quitting this bad habit can prevent further damage to your overall health as well. After a few months of your smoke-free life, you can notice an improvement in the overall condition of your health as a whole.

To make sure you avoid relapse, try talking to your friends and family members about your intentions to quit for good. This way, they will be able to offer you their support when you need it the most. If you’re still unable to quit smoking despite all your best efforts, consider joining support groups in your area. This can help you stay motivated longer and make you finally quit this very destructive habit!

• Brushing Teeth Aggressively

When you brush your teeth too vigorously, you risk damaging your enamel and wearing away your tooth’s protective surface. Enamel erosion can also make your teeth more sensitive and cause cavities. Try using a soft-bristled toothbrush and use gentle strokes while brushing your teeth. If there is plaque buildup that a regular brush can’t get rid of, your dentist can scrape it off for you during your next visit.

• Teeth Grinding

When a sleep disorder, like sleep apnea, is present, tension from the jaw clenching is transferred throughout the head, neck, and shoulders. This causes pain throughout. Also called bruxism or tooth-grinding, this bad habit can crack the teeth and cause receding gums. It can also cause headaches, earaches, and even change one’s bite. If you suspect you grind your teeth at night, talk to your dentist about night guards or a mouth guard to wear while sleeping. This can keep your upper and lower jaw from touching each other while you sleep and prevent you from grinding your teeth. Talk to your dentist about other ways to protect your teeth from nighttime tooth grinding. You might also try adjusting your sleep position or applying a warm compress to your cheeks before you go to bed. These remedies can help relax your muscles and decrease tension in your face.

• Not Visiting the Dentist Regularly

Problems with teeth and gums tend to get worse if they’re not treated or diagnosed early. This is why visiting a dentist at least every six months is important. Early detection and treatment of oral problems can prevent them from getting worse and are more expensive to treat in the long run.

Failure to maintain good oral hygiene can also lead to tooth loss. This often occurs because food particles get stuck in the teeth and gum lines. These areas harbor bacteria that feed on the trapped food and form a biofilm called plaque. Plaque sticks to the surface of the teeth and eats away at the enamel. If left untreated, decay will progress deeper into the tooth until the nerves are exposed, and the infection requires root canal therapy to save the tooth. So visit your dentist for regular cleanings to prevent this!

If you are no longer seeing a dentist, it’s never too late to start again. Contact our office to schedule an appointment today. To learn more, schedule your exam, contact Grace Dental Ed Bishay at 5022 US-90 ALT suite c, Sugar Land, TX 77498, or call (281) 340-1333.