We all want a smile that looks great in photos and feels healthy day-to-day. But sometimes, the things we do without even realizing it can cause serious damage over time.
You might be surprised to learn that some very common routines are actually chipping away at your enamel or stressing your jaw. Do you have any of these bad habits that can weaken your teeth?
Chewing on Ice Cubes
It’s satisfying to crunch down on the leftover ice after finishing a cold drink, but your teeth really hate it. Ice is incredibly hard, and pitting it against your enamel is a risky game. You can easily chip or crack a tooth, or damage existing fillings. Even if you don’t break anything immediately, the repetitive stress creates tiny fractures in the enamel. Over time, these microscopic cracks grow and can lead to sensitivity, pain, or even more serious dental issues.
Using Teeth as Tools
You can’t get a bag of chips open or need to rip a price tag off a new shirt, so you use your teeth. While it’s convenient, it’s also one of the quickest ways to traumatize a tooth. Using your teeth to grip, tear, or open objects puts pressure on them in angles they weren’t designed to handle. This can lead to chips, cracks, or even jaw pain. It’s always safer to take the extra minute to find a pair of scissors.
Sipping Soda or Sports Drinks All Day
When you sip on soda, sports drinks, or even fruit juice throughout the day, you’re constantly bathing your teeth in acid. This acid softens the enamel. If you drink a beverage all at once, your saliva has a chance to wash it away. But sipping prolongs the exposure, giving your mouth no time to recover, which eventually leads to cavities and erosion.
Ignoring Nighttime Grinding
Waking up with a sore jaw or a headache might mean you’re grinding your teeth while you sleep. This habit, known as bruxism, wears down the chewing surfaces of your teeth until they’re flat. It can also cause fractures in the teeth that aren’t visible to the naked eye but cause deep pain later. If you suspect you grind your teeth, a nightguard can act as a buffer to protect your enamel from wearing down further.
Skipping the Floss
Brushing misses the spaces between your teeth where food gets stuck. You also need to floss to clean those hard-to-reach areas. Not flossing allows bacteria to build up.
This can lead to infection in the gums and tooth roots. If the infection gets bad enough, you may wind up needing a root canal to save the tooth.
Making Healthier Choices for Your Smile
It’s easy to fall into routines that don’t do your teeth any favors. Taking a moment to consider whether these bad habits are weakening your teeth is the first step toward a healthier smile. By swapping out these behaviors for better ones, like using scissors instead of your incisors, you’re investing in your long-term dental health. Small changes can protect your enamel and keep your teeth strong.
