5 Crazy Things We Do to Our Teeth!

Both kids and adults put their teeth through a lot without even knowing it. If you read this list and avoiding these habits, you are sure to keep your teeth intact for much longer!

1. Teeth as Tools

For some people this is a second nature, but your teeth should never be used as bottle openers, package rippers, or as any tool that opens a something your hands cannot. Using your teeth as tools can lead to broken teeth which results in repairs that can be extremely expensive.  There is also always a change that the broken teeth will never end up being as strong as the original tooth. Although grabbing a pair of scissors or bottle opener may be a little less convenient, it is worth it to save your teeth in the long run!

2. Chewing Ice

Tooth enamel is known to be one of the hardest substances in the body. Its main role is to protect the tissues that lie below the surface of your teeth. Even though the enamel is one of the hardest substances, it still cannot withstand the chewing of ice. Risks of chewing ice include small fractures, gum damage and broken teeth. The next time you want to chew ice, or allow your child to chew ice, consider options that are better for your teeth like apples or celery!

3. Consuming Soft Drinks

It is a proven fact that the highest level of sugar in a 2 year old child’s  comes from soft drinks. There is more sugar in soft drinks than in cookies, candy, and ice cream all combined! Sugar is what activates the bacteria that eats away at the enamel of our teeth, making them more susceptible to cavities. Ultimately, the beverage that you should be drinking the most is fluoridated tap water.

4. Smoking

One of the worst things that a person do to their teeth is smoking. Along with possibly causing lung cancer, smoking can also cause yellowed teeth, bad breath, an increase in plaque and tartar, a higher risk of gum disease, delayed healing, inflamed salivary glands, oral cancer…and much more. If you are a parent of a teenager and you smoke, the chance of your child smoking is at least 15 times greater than if you did not smoke at all.

5. Avoiding Flossing

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, only 7% of children floss daily. Although that is a shockingly low number, it is not surprising considering only 10% of adults floss regularly. What many people do not know or choose to ignore, is that flossing is one of the biggest actions that can help fight tooth decay. The reason being, many cavities hide in between teeth, where a toothbrush cannot reach. So avoid these type of Crazy Things We Do to Our Teeth.