San Francisco, Marin, and Oakland, CA
They say that old habits die hard, but your San Francisco dentists at Glen Park Dental want you to be aware of these 5 dental habits that you need to break ASAP! Taking care of your oral health goes beyond just brushing and flossing each day, and visiting your dentist. These common habits can cause damage to your teeth, and even cause them to break or worse! Furthermore, your teeth are made for chewing – nothing more and nothing less. So, if you find that you use your teeth for anything else, you should probably stop these habits now. Your teeth will thank you.
Bad Habit #1 Using your teeth as tools
It can be tempting, especially when you do not have the proper tools on hand, to use your teeth to open packages, bottles or cans. While your teeth may be able to complete these tasks, we urge you not to use your teeth in this manner! You may get by with it a time or two, but you run the risk of breaking off a piece of your tooth. Nobody really wants to be walking around with a snaggletooth. Instead, just take the extra two seconds to grab the appropriate tool for opening whatever it is that you need to be opened.
Bad Habit #2 Brushing with the wrong type of toothbrush
Who knew there was a right and a wrong type of toothbrush? For most people, they simply need a soft or even sensitive type of toothbrush. Avoid brushing with a medium toothbrush, because this can cause damage to your gums causing them to recede, as well as erode your dental enamel that leads to tooth sensitivity and an increased risk of cavities.
Bad Habit #3 Chewing on ice
We know, it can be refreshing and addicting at the same time, but refrain from sucking or chewing on ice. Here is why ice is not good for your teeth. The dramatic temperature changes from sucking or chewing on ice can actually cause tiny fractures in your teeth. Over time, these fractures can eventually get bigger and require a dental crown to save the tooth. Also, ice is just too hard of a substance to be chewing on. You could fracture or break off bits of your teeth or damage existing dental work such as a filling or porcelain crown.
Bad Habit #4 Grinding your teeth
This is one habit that many people do not even know that they have. Bruxism, which is clenching and grinding of the teeth, typically occurs at night but can occur during the day as well. While the exact cause of bruxism may be unknown, it is often related to stress. The good thing is that you can easily and comfortably protect your teeth from bruxism by asking your Bay Area dentist at Glen Park Dental about a custom-made nightguard to wear while you sleep.
Bad Habit #5 Not taking good care of your teeth
We are only given one set of teeth in this life. If you do not take good care of your oral health, the inevitable will happen at some point – tooth loss! While there are certainly tooth replacement options available, it is far better to just take good care of the teeth that you have rather than to replace them later on. Be sure that you brush your teeth twice a day, and floss daily. Visiting your dentist in San Francisco for routine cleanings and exams is also recommended for maintaining good oral health.
Dental Treatments in the Bay Area
To learn more about ways to protect your teeth, contact Glen Park Dental by calling (415) 585-1500 to schedule a consultation. We welcome patients of all ages from Marin, Oakland, and San Francisco, California.
