Bad Habits That Affect Our Oral Health

Our oral health is greatly influenced by our habits and lifestyle. Listed below are some of the habits that can affect your oral health.

• Not Brushing And Flossing Regularly

When you don’t brush and floss regularly, plaque can build up and harden your teeth. This can cause cavities and other oral health issues like gum disease. In fact, gum disease is linked to many other serious health problems like heart disease and diabetes. Flossing and brushing daily are essential for your oral health! The best way to avoid these problems is to keep up with your daily oral hygiene routine and schedule regular checkups with your dentist so they can spot any issues early. Your dentist can help you set up a good oral healthcare routine at home.

• Using Your Teeth For Other Things

Biting fingernails, chewing on pens or pencils, and eating ice - these are all bad habits that can harm our oral health over time. These seemingly harmless activities can lead to chipped or broken teeth, enamel erosion, and even tooth loss in extreme circumstances. Avoid these habits whenever possible to protect your teeth from damage.

• Smoking

Cigarettes, cigars, and pipes are major causes of bad breath. They also contribute to gum disease, tooth loss, and oral cancer. Fortunately, quitting smoking can greatly improve your oral and general well-being! Your dentist can help you quit by providing resources and guidance. You may also want to consider nicotine gum or patches to help you through the difficult process of quitting. The sooner you quit, the more likely you are to avoid serious oral health issues in the future.

• Tongue Piercings

This is a bad habit because it can increase your risk of chipped or broken teeth or soft tissue damage. In addition, the metal from the jewelry can irritate your mouth and lead to infection. The pressure from the tongue stud can damage your teeth by loosening your fillings or causing misalignment in your teeth.

If you want to maintain good oral health, avoid tongue piercings. If you have a tongue piercing, consider having it removed. Talk to your dentist to learn more about preventing damage to your oral health due to bad habits.

• Teeth Grinding

Bruxism, or teeth grinding and clenching, is another bad habit that can adversely affect our oral health. It can cause wear on the teeth and cause temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD. Stress is a common cause of bruxism, so finding ways to cope with stress can help to prevent this damaging behavior.

If you grind your teeth at night, talk to your dentist about a night guard. A night guard is a plastic mouthpiece that is worn over the teeth to protect them from the friction caused by bruxism. Similar mouthguards can also be used to protect patients from the effects of sleep apnea.

Contact ELAN Dentistry for the best dental care. To book an appointment, call (714) 364-8181 or visit us at 1030 West Imperial Hwy, La Habra, CA 90631.