Having healthy teeth makes for an easier and more beautiful smile, and also improves your digestive cycle. Quality of life can be greatly affected by a simple oral health problem! For example, oral pain can affect the physical, mental and social aspect of a person. To keep your teeth intact and avoid causing damage, here are 10 things not to do:
- Do not chew ice. Ice can crack or break teeth.
- Don’t undertake contact sports without protection. You wouldn’t play hockey without shin pads, would you? Protect your teeth with a good mouth guard when you perform physical activities involving contact.
- Avoid lip or tongue piercings. Oral piercings may look attractive; however, the perpetual friction can chip your teeth and cause your gums to recede.
- Stay away from gummy candies. Oh, those yummy gummy bears! Unfortunately, they stick to your teeth and tiny particles can get caught in the spaces in between, which can start the cavity process.
- Don’t chew your pencil or bite your nails. While extremely common, these actions can permanently damage your teeth.
- Ease up on the wine! If red wine can stain your teeth, white wine is highly acidic. This acid attacks the tooth and can erode the enamel.
- Don’t use your teeth to open things! How many times did Mom have to tell you this… and now you’re saying the same thing to your own kids! You can break your teeth or scratch the enamel. Use scissors instead!
- Cut back on the cough drops. They might soothe your sore throat, but they generally contain a huge amount of sugar. Practice moderation!
- Don’t grind your teeth. Grinding or clenching your teeth, known as bruxism, is an involuntary reaction that’s often caused by stress. The negative effects of tooth grinding can be minimized with custom dental devices.
- Drink fewer sports and energy drinks. High in sugar and colour, they can pose a real threat to your teeth. Don’t let them linger in the mouth. Instead, swallow them quickly, then rinse out your mouth with water.
Written with Patrick Lemay, Doctor of Dentistry and Master, International Congress of Oral Implantology
