We all know that brushing and flossing our teeth every day will protect our chompers and keep them white and strong, but did you know that some of the things we eat and do compromise our pearly whites?
Here is a list of 12 things not to do if you would like to keep your teeth.
1. Chewing ice. It may seems harmless. It has no calories or sugar, so what could be wrong? Crunching ice with your teeth may chip or crack them. If you like chewing on something, try some breath-freshening mint leaves or cardamom seeds.
2. Not wearing a mouthguard. If you’re playing any contact sport like football or hockey, there’s a good chance your teeth could be chipped or even knocked out. Be sure to put a mouth guard in. You can purchase them at a store, or have one custom fitted by a dentist.
3. Grinding your teeth. Grinding your teeth can wear them down over time. Most people grind at night and have no control over it. If you have this problem, the best thing to do is wear a mouthguard at night to prevent your teeth from touching.
4. Eating hard candy. Hard candy is pure sugar. While you’re keeping them in your mouth or chewing on them, the sugar sticks to your teeth and causes tooth decay.
5. Opening stuff with your teeth. While opening packages with your teeth might be convenient, this habit will chip and break your teeth. Your teeth are not meant to be tools. Try using scissors instead.
6. Constant snacking. When you continually snack, your mouth produces less saliva, which leaves food bits in your mouth for hours. This can lead to tooth decay.
7. Chewing on pencils. While this may be a stress releaser to some, it is no good for your teeth. This is yet another habit that will crack or break your teeth. Again, if you like to chew, try some mint leaves or cardamom seeds.
8. Sucking on lemons. Lemons are very acidic, and acid corrodes tooth enamel and create a rough surface on your teeth. Instead of biting directly into your lemon, squeeze it into a mug of warm water, and sip.
9. Aggressive brushing. While brushing your teeth is a good thing, try not to brush too hard. By doing so, you can wear down the enamel and irritate your gums. When purchasing a toothbrush, look for one with soft bristles and with the letters ADA (American Dental Association).
10. Biting your nails. This not only destroys your nails, it can also damage your teeth. If you bite your nails regularly, it can actually move your teeth – not to mention your nails splintering off into your gums and breaking your teeth.
11. Drinking soda. Carbonated drinks are very acidic and extremely high in sugar. Sipping soda is even worse if you do it slowly – your teeth are bathing in acid every time you take a sip. The acid can decay your teeth around your gums and eat away at your enamel. It’s best to stay far away from soda – diet soda included.
12. Piercing your tongue or lip. Piercing your tongue or lip may be trendy, but it can cause chronic injury to your teeth and gums. These piercings can cause tooth fracture or gum recession. It’s best to think twice about these piercings, and the long term consequence of having them done.
Your teeth are very important, and they are the only ones that you will have. Be sure to take care of them.
-The Alternative Daily
