Do you bite your nails or chew on your tongue? Maybe you grind your teeth at night while you are asleep? You are not alone! Although we don’t talk about it, most people have, or have had at least one bad oral habit. Recognizing the habit and being more mindful is the first step. Here are some 5 bad oral habits to avoid!
How Many Bad Oral Habits Do You Have?
#1. Brushing Too Hard
You might not have seen this one coming, but it’s a bad oral habit that will damage your teeth. A lot of us think our teeth are strong and need intense cleaning to achieve a healthy smile. This is just not true. Focus your cleaning more on intention than intensity. Instead of scrubbing, try massaging while focusing on the gum line.
Give yourself plenty of time (2 minutes minimum 2x a day) so you are not trying to make up for it by brushing harder. That will backfire. Use a ADA-approved soft toothbrush and ditch your hard brush for cleaning the house instead!
#2. Smoking
This obvious one is being phased out year after year but there are still so many people that cannot shake the habit. It’s one of the worst habits for your mouth, causing bad breath, gum disease, oral cancer, and many more terrible consequences. Most smokers will say they know the effects, but still can’t stop. There are many treatment angles to choose from and what works for some might not work for others. Consult with your doctor on the best ways to curb this terrible habit.
#3. Grinding Your Teeth
You might not even realize you grind your teeth while you are asleep. Grinding can wear your teeth down and cause other painful problems such as TMJ. Your dentist might prescribe a mouth guard for you to wear at night to curb the habit. If the problem is caused by something other than an abnormal bite or missing teeth, then you might look into counseling for stress and anxiety.
#4. Biting Your Nails
You might have picked up this habit as a kid, as many do. Besides transferring the germs from under your nails to your mouth, nail biting can cause your teeth to shift and break down. It can also put a lot of stress on your jaw, as you are protruding it forward for an unnatural length of time. If you need to kick this habit, try a bitter tasting nail polish. Also, by getting your nails professionally cared for, you may not be as tempted to bite them. Ask friends and family to remind you to stop when they see you biting away.
#5. Using Your Teeth as a Tool or Chewing on Things
Sometimes we use our teeth as we would a tool, for example, to open a condiment packet. It’s crucial not to use them this way. Your teeth are not as strong as scissors or a wrench. Don’t overlook their importance!
If you want to stop bad oral habits, stop chewing on anything other than food. Even ice chewing can be a bad for your teeth, as it can cause fragility and sensitivity. If you are struggling with this habit, it is best to find the reason you are doing it and start there. Finding a solution will be easier when you find the cause.
Bottom Line for Bad Oral Habits
A lot of bad oral habits are brushed aside by friends and family, such as nail biting. It is often thought that we’d grow out of such a habit, but some never do. The best solution to most of these bad habits is to figure out the why. Once you do that, it might be easier to put together a solution. Certain circumstances might be more difficult to figure out than others, but all of them are worth figuring out for the future of your oral health.
Looking for a dentist that can help solve your bad oral habits? Miami Valley Smiles is the right place to come, as our dedicated staff is ready to solve any oral problem you face! Call to schedule an appointment today!
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