{"id":707,"date":"2016-07-27T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-07-27T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/\/hudsonhighlandsdentistry\/dental-care-blog\/everyday-habits-affect-teeth-2\/"},"modified":"2016-07-27T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2016-07-27T00:00:00","slug":"everyday-habits-affect-teeth-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/hudsonhighlandsdentistry\/dental-care-blog\/everyday-habits-affect-teeth-2\/","title":{"rendered":"How Everyday Habits Affect Your Teeth"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

\"\" TOOTH ENAMEL HAS<\/strong> the pretty cool reputation of being the hardest substance in the human body. So it may come as a surprise to know that while enamel is super tough, it can also break quite easily!<\/strong> The truth is that our teeth are not invincible, and a lot of everyday habits can put our oral health at risk. <\/p>\n

Watch Out For These Tooth-Damaging Habits<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Many of these habits seem harmless, but over time they can do a lot of damage to that beautiful smile of yours! <\/p>\n

Nail Biting<\/h4>\n

We may refer to closely-matched sports games as \u201cnail-biters,\u201d but that doesn\u2019t mean we should actually be biting our nails! Nail biting can cause teeth to chip or break as well as lead to enamel damage.<\/strong> The front teeth are often the first to suffer wear and tear from nail biting. For the sake of teeth everywhere, let\u2019s keep the term \u201cnail-biter\u201d as a manner of expression rather than a label for ourselves! <\/p>\n

Using Your Teeth As A Tool<\/h4>\n

That darn packet of ketchup just won\u2019t open! While your teeth may seem to be the perfect solution, using them as a tool will cause more harm than good. As strong as your teeth may be, they are not meant to be used as pliers or any other sort of tool.<\/strong> Doing so can lead to fractured or broken teeth and even tooth loss. As a side note, tooth damage puts you at greater risk of decay and cavities! <\/p>\n

Gnawing On Pens And Pencils<\/h4>\n

You may be solving a difficult problem or simply thinking. Before you know it, the end of your pen or pencil is in your mouth. This oftentimes unconscious habit is an important one to be aware of. We don\u2019t realize how much pressure we\u2019re placing on our teeth when we bite down on something that isn\u2019t food.<\/strong> Chewing on your pen or pencil puts you at risk for broken teeth and even damage to existing dental work. Constant chewing on hard objects can compromise dental restorations such as fillings or crowns. When it comes to this bad habit, we say stay away! <\/p>\n

Chewing Ice<\/h4>\n

Are you an ice chewer? Chewing on ice is another huge culprit behind chipped, cracked and fractured teeth. The cold can weaken teeth even further, leaving them more susceptible to breakage. Chewing ice cubes doesn’t just chip teeth, it chips away tooth enamel as well, causing serious damage over time. <\/strong>Even your blender needs special blades to crush ice! So next time you\u2019re tempted, just remember your teeth aren\u2019t equipped to crush ice cubes.