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| 10 Dangerous Things That Can Ruin Your Oral Health |
Good oral health is extremely
important for good well-being. If your teeth or gums are damaged, it may be
quite difficult to eat and speak. Moreover, there are a lot of oral issues that
can contribute to the development of other conditions. For example, periodontitis
is one of the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. That’s why it is
essential to avoid these 10 dangerous things that can ruin your oral health.
1. Poor Oral Hygiene
Despite the fact that most people
know how to maintain proper oral hygiene, some of them still neglect it. This
may result in extremely unpleasant consequences like bad breath, tartar, gum diseases,
and even teeth loss.
If you want to keep your teeth
and gums healthy, you shouldn’t forget to brush your teeth twice a day and floss
daily. You can also use mouthwash and special toothpaste if you have some oral
issues. Additionally, professional teeth cleaning and regular dental check-ups can also prevent
many oral issues.
2. Acidic Drinks
Acids are extremely dangerous for
your teeth since they can soften and remove your tooth enamel. As a result,
your teeth may become sensitive and more prone to tooth decay.
That’s why you should reduce the
consumption of wine, citrus juices, and other acidic drinks. You should also
avoid teeth brushing right after drinking acidic beverages since you can easily
scratch your tooth enamel with bristles.
3. Oral Piercing
Oral piercing is a quite popular
decoration that is quite harmful to your oral health. Firstly, lip or tongue
piercing that is made of metal can scratch or even chip your teeth. Secondly,
the piercing itself can be traumatic and you can easily get inflammation.
Thirdly, rings or other types of piercing can increase your risk of getting
oral injuries (like tears or bruises).
4. Wooden Toothpicks
Many people tend to use wooden
toothpicks to remove food particles and dental plaque that can stick between
their teeth. However, the use of these toothpicks can do more harm than good.
Wooden toothpicks usually have a
sharp tip that can easily puncture your gums and scratch your teeth. You can
also protrude the food particles and plaque further and it would be harder to
reach them. That’s why it is better to use dental floss or special floss picks.
5. Hard And Sticky Candies
Candies contain a significant
amount of sugar that negatively affects your teeth. Hard and sticky candies are
more dangerous. Hard candy they can scratch your teeth while sticky candy can
stick between your teeth.
You should know that if sugar
remains in your mouth for a long period of time, it contributes to tooth decay.
Bacteria that inhabit your oral cavity consume sugar and produce acids that
wear your tooth enamel. Try to avoid or at least minimize the consumption of
candies to protect your teeth.
6. Tomato Sauces
Even though pasta with tomato
sauce is extremely delicious, it can significantly damage your teeth.
Tomato-based sauces contain acids and sugar. This dangerous combination wears
out your tooth enamel and leads to the development of tooth decay. That’s цhy it
is better to replace the tomato sauce with cheese or cream sauce that contains
a lot of calcium.
7. Gnawing Ice Cubes
Gnawing ice cubes is a quite
common habit that can have a lot of unpleasant consequences. When you chew an
ice cube, you can break your tooth or injure your gums. Moreover, cold
temperatures can make your teeth achy, especially if you have increased teeth
sensitivity.
If you can’t live without ice
cubes, try to keep them in your mouth instead of gnawing them. You can try to
replace ice with healthy snacks like nuts, fruits, and crunchy vegetables.
8. Teeth Grinding
Teeth grinding (bruxism) is a
condition that mostly affects children but some adults also tend to clench
their teeth. This bad habit can lead to enamel wear and jaw pain. Enamel wear
can lead to teeth sensitivity.
There is no cure for bruxism but
you can ask your dentist about night guards. These devices create a barrier
between your teeth that prevents their clenching, relieve the tension, and give
cushion to the muscles in the jaw.
9. Chewing Pencils
If you have noticed that your
pencils are chewed, it’s high time to get rid of this harmful habit. The
reality is that chewing pencils can hurt your teeth and gums. When you chew a
pencil, tiny wood particles can break away and puncture your gums or stick between
your teeth.
10. Smoking
Smoking is a dangerous habit that
affects not only your oral condition but also impacts your overall health. When
you constantly smoke, tobacco by-products tend to accumulate on your teeth and
(along with dental plaque) contribute to the development of tartar.
In addition, people who smoke
usually have bad breath and bleeding gums. Regular teeth cleaning and dental
check-ups are essential for smokers since they are more prone to gum disease.
The Bottom Line
There are a lot of various
conditions that can affect your oral health. Unfortunately, many of them
develop asymptomatically and can be recognized only in the late stage. If you
want to keep your teeth and gums healthy, visit your dentist regularly and
avoid these dangerous things listed above.