Keeping your teeth healthy doesn’t have to be challenging and can positively impact your overall health. However, some habits could do your teeth more harm than good. Of course, not brushing or flossing your teeth can have a negative effect on your oral health, but this is obvious and easily avoided. What are some other habits that may not be so obvious? Continue reading to learn more!
Constantly Chewing on Hard Objects
If you find yourself mindlessly chewing on hard objects such as ice, pencils, pens, and more, you should stop immediately. Chewing on hard objects can wear away your enamel, making your teeth more susceptible to decay. Your teeth could also become more sensitive to hot and cold foods, making eating your favorite foods an unpleasant experience. This habit can cause chipping and worn-down edges of your teeth. Be more careful of what you chew.
Teeth Grinding
Bruxism–teeth grinding and clenching–can negatively impact your teeth. Nighttime teeth grinding often leads to chipped teeth, severe enamel wear, headaches, pain, and more. Consider wearing a night guard to prevent these complications during your sleep. A night guard provides cushioning against grinding forces; however, you may need additional treatment depending on the severity of your situation.
Overindulging in Soda or Energy Drinks
Drinking soda in moderation is essential for the health of your teeth. Soda is one of the worst drinks for your teeth since it contains a large amount of sugar that can cause enamel erosion. Soda also contains citric acid that also aids in enamel erosion. The sugar and acidity combined can be major contributors to tooth decay.
Would diet soda be a better alternative? Unfortunately, no. Even though diet soda doesn’t contain as much sugar, it has double the acidity because of artificial sweeteners. Therefore, there isn’t much of a difference between regular and diet soda and their negative impact on your teeth.
Constant exposure to carbonated beverages makes you more likely to experience teeth damage. It is best to switch out your daily Pepsi for plain water. If you are craving soda, have a small glass with a meal once in a while to practice moderation.
