Common Teeth Issues and Mistakes

It’s normal to make mistakes. If you have bad teeth and experience common teeth issues, it might be because you’re making a few of these mistakes that will destroy your dental hygiene!

Chewing Ice Cubes

Did you know the tooth enamel is a crystal? Because it’s a crystal, it can break, which is not what you want. Ice is a crystal that can easily be broken by your teeth, and it can be an addicting activity. While most people don’t see the harm in it, you run the risk of breaking your teeth or a filling when you chew ice cubes, so try to avoid it as much as possible.

Nail Biting

Not only is this nervous tick terrible for your nails, but it’s also bad for your teeth! Nail-biting can chip your teeth if you bite hard enough, and even worse, it can severely impact your jaw. By placing pressure on your jaw while in a protruding position for long periods of time, you can cause jaw dysfunction and pain in your mouth. Many people fix these common teeth issues by creating newer, healthier habits for de-stressing, as well as by painting their nails with bitter polish.

Using Your Teeth As Tools

Sorry, but if you’re using your teeth to open everything, you’re doing it wrong. Using your teeth as tools is a very common mistake, and results in bad teeth. Our South Florida dentist, Dr. de Cardenas, highly advises against this, as it puts your teeth at a higher risk of cracking and will likely cause you to injure your jaw.

Brushing Too Hard

If you’re brushing your teeth for two minutes, twice a day, then good for you! This is a great habit, but make sure you’re not brushing too hard or using a rough toothbrush. This can damage your teeth and irritate gums, causing common teeth issues. Make sure to use a soft toothbrush that has an ADA Seal of Acceptance, and try massaging your teeth rather than scrubbing them.

Constant Snacking

Many people aren’t aware that constantly snacking causes bad teeth. This is especially true if you can’t stay away from sugary foods and drinks, like candy and soda. Constant snacking increases your chances of getting cavities, due to the bacteria on your teeth that eat away at the leftover food and produce an acid that attacks the outer shell of your teeth.

Fix this problem by eating less sugary foods and snacking less. We recommend eating nutritionally balanced meals to feel fuller for longer and eating snacks here and there throughout the day. If you decide to eat sugar, always drink plenty of water afterward to wash away leftover food.

Grinding and Clenching

This one’s one of the worst. Grinding and clenching your teeth may be a habit you do that you’re not even aware of, but it’s more harmful than you think. This activity causes chipping and cracking in your teeth, plus joint pain and even muscle tenderness. A common symptom is also experiencing pain in your jaw while chewing or feeling like you can’t open your mouth wide.

Be aware as much as you can be when it comes to this habit, and try to practice relaxation exercises. If your body has this habit while you’re asleep, you can also use a nighttime mouthguard.

Smoking

Actually, this one is one of the worst. Most of us can agree that smoking has way more cons than it does pros, and there are endless possibilities to the damage it can do—especially to your teeth. Smoking harms your teeth, gums, and overall mouth health. It will cause stains and bad teeth, bad breath, and has shown a link to gum disease and oral cancer.

If you’re addicted to smoking, we highly encourage you to seek help as soon as possible.

Mouth Piercings

When mouth piercings are improperly maintained, they can cause infections and even damage your fillings. These piercings can also pose a problem if you need an x-ray at the dentist’s office.

Our South Miami dentist says you should probably pass on the piercings or at least clean them properly and often.

Junk Food/Soda

Not only is excessive sugar bad for your body, but also it can cause cavities and tooth decay when acids (the same acids we mentioned earlier) wear down the enamel and cause tooth decay. Brush your teeth and drink plenty of water to keep sugar out of the way.

Miami Cosmetic Dentist | Dr. Andres de Cardenas

Looking for a Miami-area dentist? Dr. de Cardenas and his team are here for you. Stop by our office and make an appointment online right on our website!