Many people all over the world want to have healthy teeth and gums. However, most of them have harmful habits that can destroy their oral health and lead to severe complications. In this article, we have gathered eight bad habits that can affect your oral health.
1. Poor oral hygiene
Proper oral hygiene tends to be one of the most important parts of oral care. If you want to keep your teeth and gums strong and healthy, it is essential to brush your teeth twice a day and use dental floss at least once a day.
The point is that your oral cavity is full of various bacteria. If you don’t remove them regularly, they multiply and cause oral issues. The most common consequences of poor oral hygiene are:
- Bad breath
- Tartar build-up
- Stained teeth
- Tooth decay
- Gum disease
- Dental abscess
If you want to avoid the aforementioned conditions, you need to maintain proper oral hygiene.
2. Smoking
In addition to the fact that smoking can affect your lungs, heart, blood vessels, and many other organs, it can also worsen your oral health. People who smoke often have dark teeth, tartar build-up, bad breath, and gum disease.
3. Coffee addiction
Even though coffee has certain health benefits and helps people wake up, it is essential to limit its consumption. The reality is that coffee is an acidic drink that can soften and wear out your tooth enamel.
Additionally, it contains tannins that cause teeth discolouration. That’s why it is better to add milk to your coffee since milk reduces its acidity and contains calcium.
4. Gnawing hard objects
Many people tend to gnaw ice cubes, wooden toothpicks, pencils, and other hard objects. You should understand that it is essential to get rid of this habit since it can result in tooth fracture or gum injuries.
5. Insufficient hydration
If you want to have healthy teeth and gums, you need to drink a lot of water. Insufficient hydration can lead to the development of a dry mouth and other unpleasant complications. If you don’t drink enough water, your saliva production decreases. This results in bacteria overgrowth and plaque accumulation.
6. Poor diet
It is important to understand that the foods and drinks you consume have a great impact on the condition of your oral cavity. Sugary and acidic foods and drinks and contribute to the development of tooth decay, gum disease, and many other oral issues.
You need to eat a lot of fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, nuts, and seeds to supply your teeth and gums with the necessary nutrients. Additionally, it is beneficial to add fatty fish to your diet since it contains Omega 3 fatty acids that have anti-inflammatory properties.
7. Teeth grinding
Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, is a condition in which a person clenches their teeth. This can result in worn-out tooth enamel, loose teeth, jaw pain, headaches, and other complications.
If you grind your teeth at night, you may need to use a mouthguard. But if you clench your teeth throughout the day, you need to get rid of this habit.
8. Skipping dental appointments
Many people think that there is no need to visit the dentist regularly especially if they don’t have any symptoms. But the truth is that many oral issues can develop without any obvious symptoms and only a dentist can recognize them.
If you want to have a healthy oral cavity, make an appointment with your dentist for an exam and treatment if needed.
The bottom line
In addition to the fact that there are a lot of oral issues that can worsen your oral health, many people have bad habits that also have negative effects on their teeth and gums. To keep your teeth and gums healthy, you need to maintain proper oral hygiene, eat healthy foods, and visit your dentist on a regular basis.
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