Everyday Protection For Your Smile
One of the worst things that you can hear when you go to the dentist is that you have a cavity. While we all know that regular brushing and flossing will help keep plaque at bay and our teeth healthy, there are habits that can cause problems for teeth. If you want to keep your smile and your budget looking healthy, then you should avoid at least the following habits that can damage your teeth and/or promote tooth decay.
Chewing on Non-Food Items
Enamel is a very hard substance, but it can easily be damaged when you feel the need to chew on something. Ice is a popular culprit, and while you might think that the ice crunching between your teeth is much softer than the enamel, the truth is that ice can chip and/or crack enamel. Furthermore, the pressure of the ice on your teeth can enflame the pulp inside your teeth, leaving you with a killer toothache. Ice, however, is not the only hard item that you should avoid chewing on. You should also avoid chewing on pencils, pens, toothpicks, or any other hard item. Reach, instead, for a stick of sugarless gum.
Your Jewels Aren't Tools
When you have a hard time opening a wrapper or bottle, you might be tempted to use your teeth like a vice to aid you in the process. Teeth are meant for certain pressures, and while teeth should hold up well to the downward pressure of chewing, they will not hold up to the twisting pressure created by using them to open a bottle. Even if you are simply trying to open a plastic wrapper, the pressures created can spell disaster for your teeth. Use scissors, pliers, or some other tool meant for the task at hand.
Diet Soda
Sugar is one of the main culprits responsible for tooth decay, but it is not the only one. Sugar, by it itself, does not eat away at your teeth. Instead, it feeds the plaque which coats your teeth, which plaque creates acid which then eats away at your teeth. You might think that by drinking a sugarless drink, you are out of danger. The problem is that many sodas contain phosphoric or citric acid, and some of the sweeteners used in place of sugar are acids. Thus, drinking diet soda can still lead to tooth decay.
If you are sick and tired of hearing about cavities when you go to the dentist, and you have an impeccable routine for brushing and flossing, then your problem might be a nasty, little habit. It might take some time to break your need to chew ice or open bottles with your teeth, but your smile and your wallet will be glad you did. To learn more, visit a website like http://www.fortcollinsdentist.com.
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