We all want a bright, healthy smile. We brush, floss, and see our dentist regularly, but sometimes, despite our best efforts, we still find ourselves dealing with cavities, discolouration, or sensitivity. What we might not realise is that our daily routines could be the culprits. From the way we start our mornings to how we unwind at night, many of our seemingly harmless habits can have a significant impact on our oral health. In this blog post, we’ll explore five common daily habits that are secretly affecting your teeth—and what you can do to protect your pearly whites
1 - Teeth grinding (Bruxism)
Bruxism is the medical term for the habit of grinding, clenching, or gnashing your teeth, often subconsciously. It can happen both during the day (awake bruxism) or, more commonly, at night while you sleep (sleep bruxism). This constant, involuntary pressure puts immense stress on your teeth, leading to a variety of dental problems. The forceful grinding action can wear down and flatten the chewing surfaces of your teeth, eroding the protective enamel and exposing the sensitive inner layers, which can cause tooth pain and sensitivity. It also increases the risk of chipped, fractured, or loose teeth and can damage existing dental work like fillings or crowns. Over time, chronic bruxism can contribute to a painful condition called temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, causing jaw pain, headaches, and difficulty chewing.
2 - Using your teeth as a tool
Your teeth are powerful, but they have their limits, and using them as tools is a quick way to exceed them. Activities like biting your nails, opening a bottle, or chewing on a pen can be extremely damaging. Unlike the vertical forces involved in chewing, these actions apply unnatural pressure that can easily cause a tooth to chip or crack. For example, using your teeth to tear open a bag of chips can lead to a sudden break, while the constant stress from nail-biting can slowly wear down your tooth enamel and cause jaw pain. These bad habits weaken the overall structure of your teeth, making them more susceptible to damage and potentially leading to painful and expensive dental procedures.
3 - Chewing on hard objects
Chewing on hard objects like ice, boiled sweets, or pen caps may seem harmless, but it can be incredibly damaging to your teeth. Your teeth are designed to withstand the vertical pressure of chewing food, not the extreme force and unnatural angles of biting down on a hard, non-food item. This pressure can cause tiny, invisible micro-fractures in your tooth enamel. Over time, these small cracks can grow larger, leading to a chipped, cracked, or even fractured tooth. The habit can also wear down tooth surfaces and put stress on existing dental work, such as fillings and crowns, causing them to break or fall out.
4 - Brushing too hard
While it may feel like you're getting a deeper clean, brushing your teeth too hard can cause significant damage. Aggressive scrubbing, especially with a medium or hard-bristled brush, acts like an abrasive, wearing away your tooth's protective enamel. This erosion exposes the softer dentin layer underneath, leading to increased tooth sensitivity to hot and cold foods. Additionally, the forceful pressure can cause your gums to recede, exposing the tooth roots, which are not protected by enamel and are more vulnerable to decay and sensitivity.
5 - Frequent snacking and sipping
Frequent snacking and sipping can be a major cause of tooth decay. Each time you eat or drink something other than water, the bacteria in your mouth produce acids that attack the enamel, the protective outer layer of your teeth. While your saliva can neutralise these acids over time, frequent snacking and sipping throughout the day doesn't give your saliva a chance to do its job. This constant acid exposure can wear down your enamel, leaving your teeth vulnerable to cavities.