Is chewing on ice bad for your teeth? As you may know, you may harm or cause a problem in your teeth without noticing.
Chewing those melted chips of frozen joy that wait at the bottom of our favorites drinks can be delicious, especially during these days of summer.
However, you need to know the habits that can ruin your teeth. We are sorry about this, but we need to let you know that chewing ice can be an awful way to wreck your smile.
Maybe you are no aware of it, but some daily habits you have may have consequences.
Think about all the habits you might have? Which one do you think is the worst for your teeth?
We prepared a list of the possible bad habits you may have, habits that are probably a threat to your smile.
Nail-biting
This is probably one of the most common bad habits. It starts almost without you can notice. But later, you caught yourself biting your nails.
This habit is generally related to anxiety. And it is even developed by children. Some medical examinations estimates around 20% to 30% of children acquire this behavior.
Besides the harm made to your teeth for biting your nails, think about the germs and bacterias you can get with this bad habit. Instead of placing your nails into your mouth, try to find something to keep your hands busy, this will keep you from getting infections and affecting your teeth.
People biting their nails may experience:
- distressful feelings of unease or tension before biting nails.
- feelings of comfort or even happiness after biting
- tissue damage to nails, cuticles, and fingers
- mouth wounds, teeth problems, abscesses, and infections
Brushing Teeth Too Hard
You might think the harder, the better, but this is not true. Of course, you need to brush your teeth consistently. But that doesn’t mean you need to do it vigorously.
By brushing too hard, you can damage your teeth and irritate your gums.
Also, keep in mind that your teeth do not need to be brushed for too long, a period of two minutes should be enough to have a good cleaning.
By brushing too hard, you can cause problems of sensitivity, which are caused because the enamel wear and receding gums get damaged.
People that are more at risk for teeth or gum damage from overbrushing are particularly concerned about their oral health. People that use hard-bristled toothbrushes are at risk too if they overbrush their teeth.
To remove plaque from teeth, it is not necessary to damage your teeth. In fact, the important thing is the technique rather than the strength, so keep that in mind.
Chewing Ice
Chewing ice is an incredibly common practice. If you are not suffering from dental sensitivity, you are probably one of those who love to chew ice.
In our beverages, ice is an excellent way to fresh us up, especially during these days of summer. Sadly, just like many other hard foods, ice can potentially produce damage in your teeth, gums, and tissues in your mouth.
Did you know that pagophagia is the medical term for compulsively chewing on ice? Pregnant women and children may experience this more often than the rest of us.
Many people want to feel refreshed during a hot day by adding some ice to their beverages. Sucking the ice cubes can help us to release ourselves from that dry mouth sensation.
Nonetheless, continually chewing on ice, iced beverages, or freezer frost can be an indicator of a condition that needs a medical assistant, especially because it can lead to severe teeth problems in the future.
Using Your Teeth as Tools
Some people might find it easier to use their teeth as bottles or packages openers. But this habit is one of the worst ever since it can cause several problems for your teeth and even the need to have them replaced.
Holding pens and other things in your mouth is not good for your teeth or oral health. You can wear your teeth down if you hold objects in your mouth. Your teeth shouldn’t be used as a third hand to retain foreign objects.
You shouldn’t chew objects that aren’t food either. Remember that teeth are meant to eat food and just-food.
Instead of using your teeth as scissors or some kind of tool, you should try to find the right one. Your teeth are not tools.
Teeth are there to help you eat, chew, and give everyone a nice smile, not to activities as the ones previously mentioned. You can break or miss your teeth if you use them as tools.
Just keep that in mind. Dentistry is not that affordable, take care of your teeth.
Too Many Snacks
Drinking and eating foods with too much sugar can cause cavities in our teeth, and cavities can then cause other problems in our mouth.
If you already know that you get hungry and need snacks during the day, try to prepare something healthy before you get out of your house.
We live in a continuous rush every day. We are busy all the time, and grabbing a bite can be difficult. You can also try drinking water instead of eating food with too much sugar. By doing this, you will help your teeth to avoid cavities and prevent painful treatments.
So as you can see, different habits can be developed without warning; this is why it is important to recognize them and avoid them.
Snacks, especially those with high sugar levels, can bring a lot of dental problems over the years. Remember to give your mouth a good clean up as well as regular check-ups with your dentist.
Regular dental check-ups can always help you improve your oral health and avoid bacterias or germs that cause problems in your teeth.
Try getting habits that will help you maintain your mouth and teeth healthy, like brushing your teeth properly after every meal and even having a snack with too much sugar.
Also, you need to remember that your oral health is as essential as overall health; it will not be easy to have it done. But you get a routine for your mouth; you will be helping to prevent treatments that are sometimes very expensive.
Take Care of Your Teeth
If you feel that something isn’t right with your oral health, see your dentist right away.
Don’t wait until it is too late to avoid bad habits that ruin your teeth. If you already know which patterns you need to skip, it is time to change them, DO NOT WAIT LONGER!
Apart from these habits, there may be many others that cause disturbances to your teeth. If you have any questions about something, in particular, do not be afraid of asking your dental hygienist.
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