The Five Worst Habits For Your Teeth
Many of us are diligent about brushing and flossing twice a day, but there are some bad habits that you may not have even realized can be terror on your teeth. At McKinney Smiles, your McKinney dentist of choice, we want to make sure that your pearly whites stay happy and healthy. Please take a look at the five worst habits for you teeth below.
Coke and Soda Pop
Most sodas on the market today are fairly unhealthy for your teeth. Drinks like Coke and other such carbonated beverages may contain up to 11 teaspoons of sugar in each can or bottle. They also contain high amounts of phosphoric and citric acids, which have been proven to eat away at your tooth enamel potentially leading to cavities. Diet types of these sodas, which can have less sugar, sometimes have even more of these damaging acids.
Chewing on Ice
Ice may seem harmless, but this hard brick of frozen H2O can be very detrimental to your teeth in a big way. Biting down on a hard piece of ice can frequently result in cracking or chipping teeth. Even chewing on ice is not recommend as it can irritate the tissue inside your teeth and cause toothaches. This also can make your teeth more prone to temperature changes, which can then produce more aches or pains.
Piercings and Studs
Though some people like the look of pierced lip or tongue, it can do serious damage to your dental well being. Any time you bite down on metal in your mouth it can cause chips or cracks to your teeth. Rings and studs in lips or the tongue can also irritate your gums, your mouth’s interior, and even result in gum damage or loss of teeth. Piercings around your mouth can also raise your risk of getting infected, so it is wise to check with a dental professional like McKinney dentist Dr. Paul Lawrence before you decide on an oral piercing.
Forgetting A Mouth Guard
Contact sports are one of the most common ways that people damage their teeth. It is recommended that you wear a mouthguard for any sport that has contact or falls, even gymnastics or skateboarding, along with more traditional sports like basketball and football. Good mouth guards are molded to your teeth and offer a barrier against any objects or limbs that come in contact to your mouth. Check with your dentist to see the right type of mouthguard you might need for your particular uses.
Gatorade and Other Sports Drinks
Gatorade, Powerade and other sports drinks are very popular with athletes and those who exercise. They are great at replenishing lost salt and electrolytes that we lose when exerting ourselves, but these drinks also include sizeable amounts of sugar, which is not good for your teeth. Most dental professionals recommend drinking water as a substitute for these sugar-packed sports drinks.
If you have questions about any of the items listed above, or need a dentist in McKinney, Texas, please don’t hesitate to contact the helpful staff at McKinney Smiles today.