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It’s important to take care of your oral health if you wish to enjoy optimal general health. Usually, this means making sure you brush at least twice daily, floss every day, and of course, that you come to see us regularly for dental checkups and cleans. However, a simple preventive dental care routine may not be enough if you have harmful oral habits. Unfortunately, we often see the impacts of these habits on people’s dental health.

Smoking

Smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your dental health, not to mention your general health. Common issues created by smoking include yellow or brown stains on your teeth due to nicotine buildup. You can always tell a smoker because it’s on their breath constantly. Smoking affects your sense of taste, so you cannot enjoy foods properly.

More seriously, smoking greatly increases the risk of gum disease, a common condition that can cause tooth loss and even affect general health. This is because smoking narrows the capillaries in your gums, making it harder for your body to send essential nutrients to your gums to help them fight infection and heal and to transport harmful toxins away. Smokers are also more at risk of oral cancer, a disease that can become life-threatening unless diagnosed promptly. It’s one of the reasons why your regular checkups are so important because we carry out oral cancer screenings regularly. If you smoke, it’s worth getting serious about quitting and seeing your GP for help and advice.

Nail-biting

Nail-biting might seem harmless, but your fingernails most likely harbour large quantities of harmful bacteria, and every time you bite your nails, you transfer these bacteria into your mouth. Additionally, nail-biting places stress on your teeth and can eventually chip or crack them or crack any dental restorations like veneers.

Failing to Floss Regularly

Do you only floss when you have something stuck between your teeth? We know this is often the case and can always tell who regularly floss their teeth and who doesn’t. When you floss regularly helps maintain strong and healthy gums and is essential for removing plaque buildup between your teeth and getting rid of food particles left behind after meals. Regular flossing helps prevent gum disease and ensures your smile always looks its best.

Using Your Teeth to Open Things

Your teeth may be conveniently present when you receive a hard to open parcel, but that doesn’t mean you should use them as tools. Using your teeth to open packets or even worse bottles can easily crack and chip them, so instead of saving time, you could end up needing extensive restorative dental care. It’s far quicker and cheaper to get the proper tools.

Chewing on Any Items Other Than Food

Teeth are relatively hard and strong, but they are designed only to bite and chew food. Anything else such as pens, pencils or ice cubes can damage your tooth enamel. You could end up with chips and cracks that need mending.