5 Of Your Bad Oral Habits You Need To Break ASAP

Your bad dental habits are causing you a lot of trouble more than you think they are. As a result, you spend more money at dental clinics than you should be. Here are five of your bad oral habits you need to break as soon as possible.

1. Using a Toothbrush with Hard Bristles

Brushing your teeth with a hard toothbrush may irritate your gums and lead to sensitive teeth. Over time, the hard bristles will scrape the gum away from the teeth, leaving the roots exposed. This could lead to further sensitivity and even tooth loss.

2. Forgetting to Floss

Flossing is one of the most important dental habits a person must be constantly reminded of everyday. The truth is, this oral routine is oftentimes forgotten or skipped. While regular brushing does a good job of removing plaque, your toothbrush can only reach about two-thirds of the surface of your teeth, which means that gingivitis-causing plaque or tartar could be building up on the remaining one-third. By flossing at least once a day, you’ll be able to cure bad breath caused by food particles lodged between the teeth, and even lower your risk of gum disease.

3. Grinding Your Teeth

Grinding is sliding your teeth back and forth over each other. It often occurs during the night and can become a fairly serious problem for teeth and the temporomandibular joint. Over time, this habit can lead to fractured or broken teeth.

4. Smoking

Smoking isn’t good for your oral health, neither your overall health. This hard-to-quit habit can increase your chances of developing a life-threatening illness, but the good news is that whether you’ve been a smoker for one year or for ten, quitting can quickly lower your risk of developing oral cancer, lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema and painful lesions in the mouth that do not heal.

5. Using Your Teeth as a Tool

People rely on their teeth to do more than just bite or smile. Many people use their teeth to uncap a bottle of cool drink or nail polish, to open a bag of sweets, or to rip off a price tag from a clothing item. These habits can be harmful on your teeth, causing them to chip off or fracture.

There are a lot of people who might be unaware that these dental habits can compromise their oral health. If you find yourself engaging in one or more of the above-mentioned habits, consult with your dentist immediately. Maybe it’s about time for you to kick these bad habit aways!