Ten Bad Habits That are Really Hurting Your Teeth

Bad habits. We all have them.

It’s not always easy to break a bad habit. In fact, it’s been said that it takes the average person around 30 days to break a single bad habit. But some habits are definitely worth the effort to break, especially ones that may be doing damage to your oral health.

It’s important to know that the secret to having a healthy mouth goes above and beyond how long you brush your teeth or how often you floss. Everything from the food you eat to the way your body reacts to stress has the potential to create bad habits that can be painful to your teeth and expensive for your wallet.

If you find yourself guilty of any of these habits, find comfort in knowing that a recent study by Colgate found only around 10 percent of American adults admit to having regular (and healthy) oral health habits. As it turns out, we could all use a little help when it comes to knowing what is best for our teeth. Here, we have identified nine habits that are definitely hurting your teeth and what steps you can take in order to break the habit for good.

Grinding Your Teeth

Teeth grinding, also known as Bruxism, is a common response when we experience stress and anxiety. It can happen at any time, but the majority of teeth grinding actually happens when we sleep (called nocturnal bruxism). Certain medicines can also cause you to grind your teeth. Grinding is extremely common among young children although they tend to grow out of it by the time their permanent teeth fully come in. No matter what the root cause may be, teeth grinding is a bad habit that can be extremely painful if not properly addressed. Constant clenching and grinding can create problems that impact a lot more than just the integrity of your teeth.

Your jaw can also become victim to pain from grinding. Specifically, teeth grinding impacts the joints around your jaw, and the group of muscles that surround it. In severe cases, grinding can result in temporomandibular disorder (TMD). This is a fancy term for the painful disorder that causes clicking, popping and grinding noises when you move your jaw. This can interrupt everyday activities like eating and talking. In addition to causing pain, teeth grinding can physically damage the structure of your teeth. As the top layers of teeth become worn down, sensitive secondary layers are exposed which can result in painful tooth sensitivity while eating some of your favorite foods.

Solution

There are a few different ways you can combat teeth grinding, and most of them have nothing to do with your actual teeth. One of the best ways to fight back against bruxism is to simply relax. Activities like yoga, meditation and massage therapy can help to calm you and release painful tension you may be holding in your face and jaw. If your bruxism is severe, you may want to consider adding a night guard to your sleep routine for added protection.

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Using an Old Toothbrush

Whether you have an old school toothbrush or a fancy electric one, you still have to be cognizant of when it’s time to say goodbye and move on to a new brush or replacement head. If you have a habit of waiting to switch out your brush head, you run the risk of creating the perfect environment for nasty bacteria to grow on your brush bristles. This is especially true if you used your toothbrush while sick or feeling under the weather. Another reason to change your toothbrush head? The bathroom is a really gross place, and your toothbrush isn’t immune to that.

Solution

Most dentists recommend replacing your toothbrush every three months. This includes both electric and non-electric brushes. Another way to measure the life of your toothbrush is to check to see whether the bristles appear frayed or the colors on the bristles are faded. These are all indicators that it’s time for a new toothbrush.

Opening Things With Your Teeth

Attempting to open anything with your teeth is a bad idea. If you open things with your teeth a lot, it’s a bad (and dangerous) habit. When you open objects with your teeth, you’re at risk for chipping or eroding the enamel on your teeth which cannot be replaced. At the end of the day, your teeth are not tools, which is why your teeth can easily chip and crack if you choose to use them as bottle openers.

Solution

Don’t open anything with your teeth. For added security and to reduce the chances of you using your teeth as a bottle opener, try carrying around a pocket knife. Most pocket knives come with a bottle opener feature that would work if you find yourself in a pinch. Your teeth will thank you later.

Eating Too Much Starch

It seems that starch can be found in almost all of the best foods. Everything from french fries to pasta has some level of starch in it. But did you know that these satisfying delicacies might be doing more damage to your teeth than sugar? You see, back in the Neolithic period when meat-eating was the primary meal of choice, tooth decay was rare. It wasn’t until the introduction of grains and starches in our diet did tooth decay become a common problem, and the reason is scientific. When we eat starches like potatoes and pasta, we’re basically giving the bacteria in our mouth a reason to stay around. This is because starchy foods contain carbohydrates, which bacteria happen to love.

Solution

If tooth decay and cavities are a problem for you, you may want to try removing starchy foods from your diet. If you’re not able to remove starch completely it is important that you remember to brush your teeth often, especially after a meals. The longer you allow starch to sit on your teeth, the more likely it is bacteria will grow.

Not Drinking Enough Water

A recent survey by Quench Water showed that nearly 80 percent of Americans admit to not drinking enough water. This statistic is alarming when you consider how important hydration is not only to our overall health but also to our teeth. The fact is that your teeth, much like your body, can become severely dehydrated. This can happen in a few different ways, but one of the most common way is via mouth breathing. When you breathe through your mouth instead of your nose, the air you’re breathing can dry out your mouth and also the surface of your teeth. When your mouth becomes dehydrated, you no longer have the ability to defend against the acid that your mouth automatically produces when it gets too dry. This can lead to tooth decay and unwanted bad breath.

Solution

Most doctors recommend drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. However, some people may need more or less water than others depending on what medications you’re taking. If you find that drinking water isn’t enough to conquer your dry mouth, try chewing gum as it helps to increase saliva production in the mouth.

Smoking and Vaping Tobacco

Whether you vape it or smoke it, tobacco use over time can lead to bleeding gums and serious discoloration of your teeth (not to mention the damage it can cause to the rest of your body). But as the popular and new alternative to traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes and vaping deserve a double click to understand what makes them dangerous for your oral health. Unlike traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes allow for customized levels of nicotine (the main ingredient that causes tooth discoloration). This means depending on the user, there may be twice as much nicotine in an e-cigarette compared to a traditional cigarette. This increased nicotine intake makes it more likely your teeth will become discolored over time.

Solution

Consult with your doctor to learn about the best way for you to quit smoking. In the meantime, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water to combat the dryness that comes from vaping and smoking to keep your gums from getting dry.

Brushing Your Teeth Too Hard

You may not put an abundance of thought into how you brush your teeth each day. For many people, brushing is something that is done on autopilot mode, similar to driving or taking a shower. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but too much of a good thing can be bad if you’ve unknowingly been overbrushing. Brushing your teeth too hard can seem like a good thing, but it can cause damage to your teeth in ways you might not expect. One example of this is tooth abrasion, which is caused by brushing too hard and vigorously on teeth and gums. It’s a scientific term for when the enamel on your teeth gets worn away and your gum line starts to recede. It’s a painful experience that can (and should) be avoided.

How do you know you’re brushing your teeth too hard? Try to pay extra attention to the bristles on your toothbrush during your next brush session. If you notice that the bristles are bending while you brush your teeth and gums, it’s possible that you may be brushing a bit too hard.

Solution

Overbrushing is a bad habit, but it’s one that can easily be broke by taking a few simple steps. For starters, you should consider switching to a soft bristle style toothbrush. This type of toothbrush has extra soft and flexible bristles which means the bristles will move with you with you as you brush instead of against you. If you’re in pain from overbrushing, consult with your dentist.

Eating Too Much Fruit

When it comes to the integrity of your teeth, acid is the ultimate enemy. Acid causes tooth enamel to wear down and exposes your teeth and gums to sensitivity. Luckily for us, our saliva acts as a natural defense system against acid, making it less harmful. Unfortunately, this delicate balance is often interrupted by diets that may be helpful for your figure but damaging to your teeth. Specifically, diets that emphasize eating large amounts of fruit might be doing damage to pearly whites.

Solution

Eating fruit in moderation is fine, but it’s important to know which fruits contain more acid than others. Some of the the most acidic fruits include lemons, limes, cranberry juice, grapes and pomegranates.

Chewing on Ice

Tooth enamel and ice are both crystals, and when you push two crystals against each other, one will break – usually it’s the ice, but sometimes it’s a tooth or a filling. Chewing ice while drinking cold beverages is a common habit which is easily broken by avoiding ice or drinking cold beverages with a straw.

Solution

If you have to chew on something, make sure it won't damage your teeth. Instead of reaching for those ice cubes, opt for soft fruits and vegetables, or sugar-free gum.