Chewing Ice: Bad Oral Habits That Wreck Your Teeth

Chewing Ice: Bad Oral Habits That Wreck Your Teeth

Bad habits are very easy to develop but, unfortunately, there are quite difficult to break. What a majority of people fail to understand is that certain common oral habits appear harmless but have a great impact on your smile. Here are common bad oral habits that wreck your teeth.

-Chewing on ice

Chewing on ice is one of the worst oral habits. People have many reasons for chewing on ice, whether it is to enjoy a nice cool summer treat, cut back calories or relieve stress. This may seem harmless but chewing on ice is very damaging to your teeth for several reasons. First, ice contributes in wearing off your enamel. This has detrimental effects on your teeth since the enamel is what keeps them strong. The enamel is also responsible for protecting the inner part of the tooth from factors such as a change in temperatures.
Moreover, chewing on ice is harmful to your gums. This is because ice is sharp and hard and can easily puncture and damage your gums. In addition, in case you have a dental filling, this bad habit also has the potential of cracking your teeth and ruining your fillings. Putting freezing-cold ice in your mouth causes your fillings to expand. When the fillings expand, they tend to last for a shorter period than intended.
Also, the sharp edges on the ice have long been known to crack teeth. When you chew down on the ice, you exert a lot of pressure on the small areas in your mouth, and occasionally your mouth cannot bear the load. Mostly, tiny and unnoticeable cracks develop over time and eventually resulting in a large fracture.
-Drinking soda

Soda is one of the leading causes of tooth decay in Australia. It contains acids that soften the tooth enamel leading to dental cavities. Drinking just one soda in a day can lead to significant damage to the teeth in both children and adults. It is advisable that you substitute soft drinks with water or milk. If you do have an occasional soft drink, ensure that you rinse out your mouth afterward, this will help to minimize the risk of acid damaging your teeth.
-Persistent tooth grinding

Tooth grinding is a very common habit and one of the hardest to beat. This is because it often occurs as a subconscious act or impulse. For some people, it only occurs while sleeping thus making it can be hard to conquer. Tooth grinding wears down your enamel. It also weakens your teeth making them prone to fractures and cracks. If you are not sure if you grind your teeth, visit your dentist for a dental examination.

-Using teeth as openers

Bad habits such as using teeth as openers, pliers or scissors is a sure way of damaging them. Every time you use your teeth to open a bottle, tear open a package or rip something apart, you are increasing the risk of severely damaging your enamel and root of your teeth.

-Nail biting

Biting your nails can cause fractures and chipping of front teeth. This is a bad habit that can start at a young age. Possible solutions for this include: painting your nails with bad tasting nail polish and keeping your hands busy with items such as soft stress ball.

-Bottom Line

There you have it; some of the bad oral habits that wreck your teeth. It’s vital that you desist from such teeth detrimental behaviors to ensure that you maintain a natural bright smile.

If you suspect you have already damaged your teeth or gums, contact Carrum Downs Dental Clinic for a full dental examination.

Our dentist can provide you with suggestions for replacing bad dental habits with more healthy options.