There are several factors that can damage your teeth and some of them are very common that we almost try to forget it. Many people go through their days without thinking about their oral hygiene and don’t even realize that certain habits could harm our oral health.

Here are a few lifestyle habits that can damage not only your teeth, but also the entire oral health as well. Check out some of the common lifestyle habits that can damage your teeth and see if you may be guilty of some of it.

1. Grinding and Clenching Your Teeth

Many people suffer from it and usually, they aren’t noticed until the symptoms show up. There are many factors that play a role that cause this, such as times of stress and anxiety, genetics, arthritic changes in the bone and changes in the cartilage of the jaw joint, trauma, etc. Patients are usually unaware until they are informed by their dentist or if they feel some of the symptoms. If left untreated, this can lead to a variety of problems such as the thinning of the teeth, jaw and muscle pain, headaches, difficulty in opening your mouth, chewing and cracking of your teeth.

2. Unhealthy Intake of Acidic Foods and Drinks

Citric and acidic fruits and juices, soda or soft drinks, fizzy drinks including sparkling water and alcohol are considered to be unhealthy for your teeth without proper aftercare. This can lead to a condition known as acid erosion wherein your enamel could start thinning until it gets completely destroyed. This could expose the insides of a tooth which could lead to tooth sensitivity and pain. It also weakens the tooth.

A quick tip for the acid to not stay long on your teeth is to gargle with a warm water and brush your teeth 30 minutes after every meal.

3. Over Brushing Your Teeth

This is in reference with patients who brush their teeth too hard which  leads to abrasion. Abrasion is the recession of the gum line that leads to pain, sensitivity and cavities. Surgery will be needed if abrasion has been occurring for several years.

4. Nail Biting

One of the habits that some people have been doing ever since they were young is biting their nails. This can damage the appearance and health of your teeth. It can also damage your teeth’s enamel and could cause it to break or start thinning.

5. Using Your Teeth as A Tool

Do you use your teeth to open a bottle cap or a bag of chips? It might seem simple and you wouldn’t think that it could harm your teeth, but you can actually land in a dentist’s clinic because of this. Using your teeth for opening things instead of the proper tools can damage it and could lead your teeth into getting chipped-off, cracked or entirely broken.

6. Smoking

We all know that smoking is bad for your health especially for your lungs and your nervous system. Smoking is directly connected to having gum disease and oral cancer which could be a threat to your overall health. Aside from these, smoking can also stain your teeth due to the substance called nicotine.

Many of us might have a hard time giving up these habits. You could cut it down, lessen your intake or what’s best is to consult your dentist about your oral health.

Visit our dental clinic in Manila to get that perfect smile you have been wanting to have. You can also visit our other branches or contact us today!