A healthy mouth means more than an attractive smile.
Research has shown that oral health impacts whole-body well-being and is directly linked to risk levels for heart diseasepneumonia and other conditions.
Although it is common knowledge that everyone should brush and floss their teeth every day, what about the things that people are not supposed to do to their teeth?
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If you do any of these dangerous dental errorsyou could be putting the health of your teeth and gums at risk, experts say.
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1. Neglecting oral hygiene
Not taking care of your dental health is the biggest mistake cited by dentists.
Neglecting oral hygiene “includes not brushing and flossing regularly, which can lead to tooth decay, periodontitis and other oral health issues,” Dr. Sean Kutlay, a dentist in Santa Clarita, Calif., told Fox News Digital.
Even if people don’t have mouth pain or problems, they shouldn’t skip regular dental visits, dentists say. (Stock)
“To counter this, it’s important to establish a daily oral hygiene routine that includes brushing your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes and flossing at least once a day.”
2. Treating your teeth like tools
One of the main causes of structural damage to teeth is the tendency to use them as tools, such as bottle openers and tears in packaging, according to Dr. Fadi Swaida of Bond Street Dental in Toronto, Ontario.
“Using your teeth for this stuff can end up cracking, chipping and damaging them,” she told Fox News Digital.
“I’ve seen a lot of patients who break their front teeth because they were trying to open something with them.”
“I’ve seen a lot of patients who break their front teeth because they were trying to open something with them.”
3. Consuming tobacco
Tobacco use has been linked to a long list of health hazards, including those related to teeth.
“Smoking and consuming tobacco products can stain your teeth, cause bad breath and increase your risk of gum disease and oral cancer,” Kutlay said.
The obvious means of prevention is to stop smoking or using tobacco products, he added.
Vaping presents a similar problem, Swaida noted, particularly because it’s unclear what long-term damage the chemicals might do to teeth and gums.
4. File your teeth
It may sound crazy, but Fatima Khan, dentist and co-founder of Riven Oral Care in Houston, TXheard of some people filing their teeth with nail files to try and make them all the same length.
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“Not only can you introduce bacteria from your nail file into your mouth this way, but it can also cause irreversible damage to your teeth,” she said in an email to Fox News Digital. “Once your enamel is gone, it’s gone for good – it won’t magically grow back like your fingernails do.”
For some, this can lead to tenderness — but others may end up needing a root canal if they file too close to their nerve and end up in excruciating pain, Khan warned.
5. Brushing your teeth too hard
Brushing your teeth twice a day is key to good dental health, according to the American Dental Association — but too much force can backfire, dentists agree.
Brushing your teeth twice a day is key to good dental health, according to the American Dental Association — but too much force can backfire, dentists agree. (Stock)
“A lot of people think that brushing your teeth harder will help remove all the plaque and bacteria, but it can abrade your enamel and cause tooth wear and sensitivity,” says Dr. Tina Saw, board-certified dentist and founder of Oral genome in Californiatold Fox News Digital.
“Once your enamel is gone, it’s gone for good – it won’t magically grow back.”
It’s best to brush your teeth gently with a pressure-sensing electric toothbrush or a soft manual toothbrush, she said.
6. Not drinking enough water
Add dental health to the long list of hydration benefits.
“Water is not only good for your overall health, but it is very important for your dental health,” says general dentist Dr. Diana Matatova. in Glendale, Arizonatold Fox News Digital.
“After eating a meal or sugary drinks, drinking water can help you rinse your teeth when you can’t brush your teeth,” she said.
“Water is not only good for your overall health, but it’s very important for your dental health,” one dentist said. (Stock)
“Keeping saliva flowing in your mouth by drinking water helps prevent tooth decay and prevents cavities from forming.
7. Chew ice cream
Although it can be very satisfying, Dr. Saw recommends refraining from chewing ice.
“This can cause microfractures which lead to larger fractures over time and inevitably broken teeth,” she warned.
In a Japanese study, people who chewed 30 ice cubes each day using only the left side of their mouth over a two-decade period developed cavities and jaw changes on that side.
8. Biting your nails
According to studies, up to 30% of the population bite their nails, but this bad habit can damage more than just your fingers. Biting your nails can also chip your teeth, Saw warned.
“Even though your teeth are harder than your fingernails, they have thinner incisal edges that can easily chip if you bite your nails the wrong way,” she told Fox News Digital.
According to studies, up to 30% of people bite their nails, but this bad habit can damage more than just your fingers. (Stock)
“Some great ways to try and kick the habit are to keep your nails trimmed short, apply bitter-tasting nail polish, or get a gel manicure,” Saw added.
9. Going too far with DIY whitening
Certain types of do-it-yourself teeth whitening should generally be avoided, Khan told Fox News Digital.
One of the current trends is to mix baking soda with hydrogen peroxide and add it to a “boil and bite” mouth guard, which is made of a soft, flexible material that is boiled and then bitten. to conform to the teeth.
Certain types of do-it-yourself teeth whitening should generally be avoided, a dentist told Fox News Digital. (Stock)
“Baking soda can be quite abrasive, and if you use it too often or in high concentrations, it can actually damage tooth enamel,” Khan warned. “Also, this boil and bite guard may not fit your mouth snugly, so hydrogen peroxide can leak out and irritate your gums or even burn them.”
Another risky DIY trend is brushing your teeth with turmeric to strengthen and whiten your teeth.
While the herbal spice has some proven health benefitsKhan said it was better to consume it rather than brush it.
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“Turmeric is dark yellow in color, and it can be hard to completely get rid of it,” she told Fox News Digital. “I’ve seen it stain the teeth of some of my patients because they didn’t rinse their mouths and brush thoroughly enough after using it. And when turmeric stays on the teeth too long, it can actually make them more yellow.” , Not less.”
A risky DIY trend is brushing with turmeric to strengthen and whiten teeth, but it can actually stain them, dentists say. (Stock)
Over-blanching can also be harmful, Saw warned.
“Excessive teeth whitening can cause tooth sensitivity and also make the incisor or the edges of the teeth translucent,” she said. “It can also strip your teeth of their protective enamel and weaken them.”
10. Snacking all day and consuming too much sugar
“It can be hard to resist snacking throughout the day — especially now that so many of us are working remotely — but when we eat, it triggers a release of acid to aid digestion,” Saw said.
“Acid breaks down teeth, and frequent acid attacks on your teeth can cause cavities and cavities over time.”
Some foods are more harmful to teeth than others, especially sugary substances, such as sodas and candy.
Some foods are more harmful to teeth than others, especially sugary substances, such as sodas and candy. (Stock)
“Sugar is a major culprit of tooth decay,” Kutlay told Fox News Digital. “When you eat sugary foods or drink sugary drinks, the bacteria in your mouth feed on the sugar and produce acid, which can erode your tooth enamel.”
The recommended countermeasure is to limit sugar intake and choose healthier snacks like fruits, vegetables and nuts, he said.
11. Try ‘DIY orthodontics’
Some TikTok trends suggest people can straighten and move their teeth at home without any orthodontic work, but this is extremely dangerous and should be avoided at all costs, dentists have said.
“Using spacer bands, rubber bands, paperclips, beads, dental floss and rubber bands to try and move your teeth is just asking for trouble,” Khan told Fox News Digital.
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“Orthodontic movement must be done with precision, and if not, you can permanently damage your teeth, gums and roots. In some cases, it can even lead to bone loss and loss of teeth,” she added.
12. Skipping Regular Dental Visits
When people don’t have mouth pain or problems, they may assume everything is fine and choose to skip a dental visit – but dentists agree that’s a bad idea.
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Says Swaida, “Regular dental visits keep your teeth free of tartar and plaque, which cause tooth decay, and catch problems early so they can be corrected.”
