Common Dental Health Troublemakers

Keep the following dental troublemakers at bay:

Lay Off the Lemons

People who suck lemons may be putting their dental health in trouble. Why? Lemons are very acidic and acidity corrodes the enamel of the teeth. Repeated exposure to acidic substances can cause tooth enamel to erode, creating a rough texture on the surface of your teeth.

Don’t Brush Too Hard

Brushing your teeth regularly is part of good oral hygiene, but if you brush too vigorously, you can cause more harm than good. Brushing your teeth too hard can wear down enamel, irritate your gums, make your teeth sensitive to cold, and even cause cavities. To avoid these problems, it is recommended using a soft-bristled toothbrush. Bristles are firm enough to remove plaque but soft enough not to cause damage.

Refrain From Jaw Clenching and Tooth Grinding

For some people, stress can trigger frequent clenching of the jaw or grinding of the teeth. There is a severe amount of pressure on your teeth when you do that, and you can get microfractures or actual fractures in your teeth. Microfractures are weakened areas in your teeth that put them at risk for further damage. Jaw clenching or tooth grinding can also damage dental work.

Do You Crunch on Ice? Cool It

Beware of the killer cube! The cold temperature and the hardness of ice cubes can cause serious damage to your teeth. Our teeth are designed to crush through things, not against something. Even though crunching ice with your teeth may be easy, keep in mind that your blender needs special blades to crush ice.

Your Teeth Are Not a Tool

Many people use their teeth to break off a tag on clothing, rip open a package of potato chips, or even unscrew bottle tops. Teeth are meant to help us do three things: Chew food, speak properly, and look better when we smile. Teeth are not pliers, teeth are not hooks. Using your teeth as a tool is a threat to dental health and can damage dental work or cause your teeth to crack.