Four bad habits that harm your teeth

Most of us are guilty of a least one bad habit, whether it’s smoking, procrastination or just biting your fingernails.

But did you know that some bad habits can damage your teeth? It’s true. There are some habits, like biting your fingernails, that can chip your teeth or even crack them.

In this blog post, we’ll go over some of the bad habits that can damage your pearly whites.

1. Chewing on pens and pencils

Many people like to chew on their pen or pencil while they work. Often it’s a way to get rid of stress but sometimes people do it out of boredom too.

The problem with chewing on pens and pencils is that it could potentially chip or crack your teeth. Also, if you chew on pens often, you could prematurely wear down your enamel. Not to mention the risk that the pen could break in your mouth, spilling ink all over your tongue and teeth!

So it’s best to keep pens and pencils out of your mouth. If you need to chew on something, chew on sugar-free gum instead.

2. Biting your fingernails

Another common bad habit is biting your fingernails. Lots of people do it, usually as a way to relieve stress.

But biting your fingernails is definitely not good for your teeth. For one thing, regularly biting your fingernails can shift your teeth out of place, a problem that can require braces later on. For another thing, nail-biting can even damage the enamel on your teeth.

Also, every time you put your fingers in your mouth, you risk spreading bacteria from your fingers to your mouth. The bacteria could potentially infect your gums.

So, nail-biting is definitely a habit to break – before it breaks your teeth.

3. Smoking

Smoking is definitely near the top of the list of the worst bad habits. It not only affects your general health but your dental health too.

For one thing, smoking can stain your teeth yellow, and for another thing, smoking increases your risk of gum disease and even mouth cancer.

So, if you’re a smoker, it’s definitely best to try to kick the habit, for the sake of your oral health as well as your general health.

4. Frequent snacking

Another bad habit that many of us are guilty of is snacking throughout the day. This usually means going to the fridge or the cupboard every half an hour to get a biscuit or chocolate.

The problem with snacking frequently is that it’s bad for your teeth. This is because the snacks create a constant assault on your teeth in the form of acid and sugar. This can cause cavities and other problems.

So, instead of snacking all the time, it’s best to stick to your three meals instead. And if you do feel peckish between meals, make it a healthy snack, such as carrots, nuts or celery.

Conclusion

In this blog post, we’ve discussed four bad habits can damage your teeth. If you’re guilty of any of these habits, then do try to stop doing them and your teeth will thank you!