Most parents will pay considerable attention to their children’s teeth. This is because they appreciate the bearing of optimal oral health in childhood on permanent dentition. They will thus invest in the best pediatric dentist to guarantee well-aligned teeth and the highest level of oral health. Unfortunately, most clients in dental clinics nowadays are adults. This is because they assume that they no longer need to pay as close attention to their dentition once they are out of their teens.
While cosmetic dentistry clinics have several options for South Jordan residents and others looking for a perfect smile, it is best to minimize them. The increased incidences of dental misalignment, gaps, and other issues affecting your smile have been primarily attributed to several oral habits in adults. Here are some of these habits:
Aggressive Brushing
Most people would opt for a hard-bristled toothbrush coupled with aggressive brushing to guarantee seemingly high levels of dental hygiene. This unfortunately only wears down your dental enamel and irritates your gums. The thinning of your enamel exposes the inner layers of the teeth and is a leading cause of sensitivity. Pick a toothbrush that is soft-bristled yet firm enough to get rid of debris and plaque.
Tooth Grinding and Jaw Clenching
People react to situations differently. A few will clench their jaws or grind their teeth when faced with uncomfortable situations. Others also naturally grind their teeth in their sleep. Both habits, unfortunately, put too much pressure on your teeth and lead to microfractures. The weakened fracture lines do not only open up the inner dental layers to microorganisms, but they also damage dental appliances and contribute to eventual fracture of the whole tooth.
Sucking Lemons
There is currently a craze of consuming lemons as a means of detoxification. While commendable, some people opt to suck or bite down on lemon slices to harness the highest benefits. Although this might boost your general well-being, the fruit’s acid will erode your teeth’s enamel. Repeated exposure to the acid will create rough textures and pits on your teeth. These form a breeding ground for microorganisms that will affect your teeth’s integrity.
Crunching Ice Cubes
This seems like a harmless habit but has a significant impact on your oral health. The hardness of the ice cubes will generate too much pressure on your teeth and gums. Their cold temperatures will introduce an extreme temperature variation in your oral cavity that fractures the teeth.
Nail Biting
Psychologists have linked this habit to OCD and stress. Other than exposing your mouth to the bacteria under your nails that might affect the teeth and gums, nail-biting heightens the risk of chipped or cracked teeth and jaw dysfunction. The solution is to identify triggers that cause your nail biting and avoid them or get alternative ways of dealing with them.
While your parents might have tried hard to guarantee that you get a perfect smile, the habits mentioned above will erode their hard work within a short period. Therefore, they will necessitate costly and lengthy dental treatments that you would have otherwise avoided. Even as you embark on stopping the habits, get a dentist to address the damage that might have been already caused.
