A certain amount of wear and tear on your teeth is inevitable as you go through life. However, some daily habits can damage your teeth and gums, increasing your risk of developing dental problems like receding or cavities in Newcastle.
Below are some of the most common habits that could be worth quitting.
Smoking
You already know that smoking is bad for your general health, but did you realize how much damage it can do to your teeth and gums?
Smokers are more at risk of developing gum disease in Clarington. Because smoking constricts blood vessels in your gums, it can mask bleeding gums, which is one of the early signs of gingivitis. Consequently, your gum disease may be more advanced before you realize anything is wrong. In addition, smoking is well known for staining your teeth and causing bad breath.
If you do smoke, it’s worth trying to quit for the sake of your dental and overall health. Although challenging, plenty of resources are available, and your GP can probably give you more helpful advice.
Also, smoking is expensive, so think about how you would reward yourself if you managed to quit. A nice treat would be a professional tooth whitening treatment in Courtice to eliminate nicotine stains on your teeth.
Consuming Sugary Drinks
Sugary drinks, especially energy drinks, can boost you during a long day but will not benefit your dental health. These drinks and fruit juice can be loaded with sugars, feeding bacteria found in dental plaque. The bacteria produce acid that weakens your tooth enamel. Over time, consuming too many can increase your risk of cavities.
Unfortunately, diet drinks tend to be no better because they are already more acidic. They may contain ingredients like citric acid to help improve the flavour. The acids will also weaken your tooth enamel and gradually erode it.
If you currently drink a lot of sugary or diet beverages, try to reduce your consumption. If you can’t quit entirely, consider combining these drinks with water, gradually increasing the ratio until you are happy to rehydrate with plain water.
Teeth Grinding
Many people clench and grind their teeth occasionally, but if it becomes a habit, it can significantly damage teeth, jaws, and dental restorations. Teeth grinding and clenching are called bruxism and are often nocturnal habits. They can cause problems affecting jaw joints, called temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). Bruxism can even cause tooth loss.
When you visit West Bowmanville Family Dental for a checkup, we look for signs of problems like bruxism and can provide appropriate treatment. One way to treat bruxism is with a custom-made night guard, preventing contact between your upper and lower teeth. Treatment may be combined with other therapies like chiropractic care or physiotherapy, as the underlying cause of bruxism can be complicated.
If you have noticed you wake up with an aching jaw, sore teeth, or chronic headaches, contact us so we can assess your teeth and jaws to determine whether you have bruxism.
Using Your Teeth as Tools
If you’re hungry or anxious to get into a packet, your teeth are often the handiest tools available, but it can be a costly mistake. Using your teeth to open things can fracture or break them, and you could require restorative dental care to mend them.
Please trust us when we tell you it’s far better to spend a few extra seconds getting the proper tools than contacting us for emergency dental care in Bowmanville.