Common Habits That Can Harm Your Teeth

The team at Accorde Orthodontists works hard to exceed our patients’ expectations by providing exceptional orthodontic care at our three convenient office locations in Champlin, Maple Grove and Rogers MN. We want all our patients to maintain good oral health as having a healthy smile offers a slew of benefits.

Some people are compromising their oral health without even realizing it by making some common mistakes. If you have any of the following habits, it can do harm to your teeth so do your best to drop these bad habits to safeguard your smile.

Using the Wrong Eating Techniques

Many people are surprised to learn that how they consume food and beverages can directly impact their teeth. For instance, chewing on ice or regularly eating hard foods like popcorn kernels can actually crack the protective enamel on your teeth. Once these tiny cracks develop, they make your teeth much more vulnerable to breakage and tooth decay. Another bad habit that can harm your teeth is the regular consumption of sugary drinks like soda and sports drinks, which bathe the teeth in harmful sugars and acids. Make an effort to be more mindful of what you bite down on and to use a straw when drinking sugary beverages.

Using Your Teeth to Open Things

It can be tempting to use your teeth as tools when you’re dealing with small, stuck objects. When you use your teeth as tools, you can easily crack or break your teeth so think twice and reach for a real tool instead like a pair of scissors or pliers.

Grinding the Teeth

Many people grind their teeth at night without even realizing they’re doing it. A bad habit such as grinding your teeth can have many causes ranging from stress and anxiety to missing or misaligned teeth. Grinding the teeth wears down the enamel, making the teeth more vulnerable to decay. Some solutions to combat this habit include wearing a mouth guard at night, steering clear of alcohol and caffeine and placing a warm washcloth against your cheek as you sleep.

Using a Hard-Bristled Toothbrush

Many people use toothbrushes with hard, stiff bristles because they think these brushes will do a better job of removing plaque. The truth is however, that hard bristled toothbrushes do more harm than good as the stiff bristles wear tooth enamel down more quickly than soft-bristled brushes. Using a stiff bristled toothbrush also can lead to gum recession wherein the roots of the teeth become exposed. If you’re using a hard bristled toothbrush, switch to a brush with soft bristles before you do irreparable damage to your teeth.

Contact Your Local Maple Grove, Champlin & Rogers Orthodontist

The doctors and staff at Accorde Orthodontists believe that prevention is priceless. If you have any of these potentially harmful habits, do your best to overcome them so you can enjoy having a healthy smile for a lifetime. If you would like to schedule an appointment with us for yourself or your child, please complete our easy online form. We look forward to meeting you soon and welcoming you to our practice where we provide outstanding orthodontic care.