Do You Have These 7 Bad Dental Habits?

Bad dental habits can happen to anyone, but as long you know how to catch them and change them, you can save your smile from damage. Try these tips to learn how to cure bad dental habits and keep your teeth looking good. Constant Snacking Dental Danger: When you snack all day, you’re not only filling your belly, but also filling your mouth with food debris that stays on teeth and causes plaque to build up. Smile Solution: Limit snacking to once or twice a day, or choose foods that actually clean your teeth and reduce plaque, such as carrots, apples, and celery. Sugar-Filled Cough Drops Dental Danger: People often think that only candy is full of sugar, but most cough drops are actually sugar filled, too, even though they’re used for medicinal purposes. When you suck on them all day, they keep your teeth coated in sugar that leads to dental care problems like cavities and gum disease. Smile Solution: Cough drops can soothe your throat, but make sure to brush and floss after having any drops or choose sugar-free versions. Soda Drinking Dental Danger: While sodas may quench your thirst, they also cover your teeth in acids and sugar that cause dental care problems like decay, tooth erosion, and sensitivity. Smile Solution: If you can’t stop drinking sodas, try to have them less often and choose water instead. When you do drink sodas, rinse your mouth with water after you’ve finished, but wait at least 30 minutes to brush your teeth and use a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid further eroding the tooth enamel. Crunching Ice Cubes Dental Danger: Ice cubes are made to cool off your drinks, not to crunch. Remember that chewing on them is one of those very bad dental habits. Over time, it can cause teeth to crack, chip, and fracture. Smile Solution: Drink chilled beverages without any ice cubes to avoid any temptation. Using Teeth as Tools Dental Danger: Have you ever used your teeth for such tasks as tearing open a package, holding a pen, or opening a bottle cap? These common actions are actually bad dental habits that can easily cause teeth to chip and break. Smile Solution: Don’t ever use your teeth as tools. Keep the right tools for tasks nearby. Teeth Grinding and Jaw Clenching Dental Danger: If you grind your teeth frequently or clench your jaw during the day or night, you may have bruxism, a common dental disorder. Often caused by stress, it puts pressure on your teeth and jaw that can cause major dental care pain and problems. Smile Solution: Not sure how to cure bad dental habits like these? Talk to your dentist about wearing a mouth guard at night to prevent these bad dental habits, as well learning relaxation techniques to relieve both your stress and pressure on your teeth. Smoking Dental Danger: In addition to the countless reasons why smoking is a terrible overall health habit, it’s also one of the worst bad dental habits. Smoking causes plaque to collect on teeth, can make your teeth fall out, and puts you at risk for oral cancer and other diseases. Smile Solution: You already know how to cure bad dental habits. With smoking, quit as soon as possible. To improve your odds for success, ask your doctor for help. To get the dental care you deserve from an affordable dentist in Bradenton, call today at or make an appointment. Manatee Dental offers affordable family dentistry and gentle, compassionate dental care in Bradenton. With 2 affiliated practices in the Bradenton area, our offices are conveniently located with extended hours to meet your needs. At , we provide most dental services, from basic preventative care and general dentistry to specialized procedures and complete dental reconstruction. We accept most dental insurance plans and offer affordable financial solutions for any budget. Patient satisfaction is our top priority and we strive to provide the exceptional, affordable dental care and personal touch that lead to lasting relationships. A smiling patient is our greatest reward and we look forward to keeping those smiles healthy, beautiful, and bright. Discover an affordable dentist who truly cares at .