Good oral care like brushing twice a day, flossing once a day or even maintaining regular visit to your dentist may not be enough. You might be causing damage to your teeth without you knowing it. There are many common habits that most of us do unconsciously. These habits can be unfavorable and may cause harmful effects to our teeth.
1. Chewing on Ice
It’s natural and sugar free, so you might think ice is harmless. But
munching on hard, frozen cubes can chip or even crack your teeth. And if
your mindless chomping irritates the soft tissue inside a tooth,
regular toothaches may follow. Hot foods and cold foods may trigger
quick, sharp jabs of pain or a lingering toothache. Next time you get
the urge for ice, chew some sugarless gum instead.
2. Playing Sports With No Mouth Guard
Whether you play football, hockey, or any other contact sport, don't get
in the game without a mouth guard. This is a piece of molded plastic
that protects the upper row of teeth. Without it, your teeth could get
chipped or even knocked out when the action gets rough. Self-fitting
mouth guards may be purchased at a store, or you can have one custom
made by your dentist.
3. Bedtime Bottles
It’s never too early to protect teeth. Giving a baby a bedtime bottle of
juice, milk, or formula, can put new teeth on a path to decay. The baby
may become used to falling asleep with the bottle in his or her mouth,
bathing the teeth in sugars overnight. It's best to keep bottles out of
the crib.
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