Everyday habits that harm your teeth, gums

Individuals indulge in many habits that are detrimental to their mouth. In fact, experts, in this report by SADE OGUNTOLA, say these everyday activities, overtime, may lead to more problematic issues than simply, painful tooth, sore gums or yellowed teeth.

One of the most common oral problems is tooth decay or cavities. It is an affliction, which invades all age groups and the most important cause of tooth loss in children and young people. In addition, many everyday habits compromise dental health by causing immediate damage to the teeth by cracking or breaking them. The effects of others may add up over time, creating a challenge in the long run.

Ironically, many people are not mindful of these common daily habits which may be contributing to tooth cavities. “The issue of habits contributing to poor oral health is multi-factorial, some in fact are self inflicted,” President, Nigerian Dental Association, Dr Olabode Ijarogbe said.

Some of these bad habits are easy to imbibe but hard to move away from when one does not realize how much they’re costing one’s health and wellness.

These everyday habits wear down the teeth and can lead to oral health problems. Here’s a list of the worst routine ways to hurt the teeth:

Jaw clenching and tooth grinding

Stress can trigger frequent clenching of the jaw or grinding of the teeth in some people. “Grinding of teeth is a habitual thing in some people; some develop the habit from childhood. Doing this wear off the protective layer of the teeth called enamel and exposing the underlining dentine which has nerve fibre. This makes the teeth sensitive to hot or cold things,” warns Dr Ijarogbe.

Also, jaw clenching or tooth grinding can also damage dental work, such as fillings, braces and crowns.

If this habit continues into adulthood in a child, severe gum problems, sensitivity of teeth and sometime joint disturbances (pain) of lower jaw may occur.

Crushing ice cubes

Do you slurp down an ice-cold soft drink or iced tea and then crunch the leftover ice?  Ice cubes may seem harmless, but the cold temperature and the hardness of ice cubes can cause serious damage to the teeth. “Its effect on the teeth is dependent on how it is done and whether the ice is very hard,” said Dr Ijarogbe.

It can cause wear and tear on the tooth and enamel surfaces covering the tooth. If your teeth are worn or chipped already, the ice can further crack and damage the tooth structure, making it to be more susceptible to regular toothaches.

Teeth as a tool

Teeth are meant to help us do three things: Chew food, speak properly, and look better when smiling. But using the teeth as a tool to hold nail, pen or even unscrew bottle tops is a threat to good dental health.

It can cause the teeth to crack or chip off and irritate the gum because of the pressure placed on the teeth while biting down on a non-food object such as nail, pencil or pen.

The nail, Dr Ijarogbe, is a hard structure, and holding it in the mouth as many carpenters do, can also wear the enamel surfaces covering the teeth.

Brushing too hard

Brushing teeth regularly is part of good oral hygiene, but if the brushing is too vigorous, it can cause more harm than good. Brushing the teeth too hard can wear down enamel, irritate the gums, make the teeth sensitive to cold, and even cause cavities.

To avoid these problems, use of a soft bristled toothbrush is recommended. According to the American Dental Association, such a toothbrush must have bristles that are firm enough to remove plaque, but soft enough not to cause damage.

Hard-bristled toothbrush

Some people think the firmer the toothbrush, the better. This isn’t the case all the time. With age, Dr Obitade Obimakinde, a dental surgeon  at the Department of Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, said the gums push back and the roots of the teeth become exposed, often increasing sensitivity.

The root is covered with cementum, which is worn away more easily than enamel. A brush with too-firm bristles may irritate the gums and lead to sensitive teeth.

Nail biting

Biting nails doesn’t just harm the appearance of the finger nails; it can also damage the teeth. Regularly biting the nails can cause the teeth to move out of place. In addition, nail biting could potentially cause teeth to break or tooth enamel to chip, he declared.

Toothpicks

Nothing you do to your teeth or gums should ever hurt — if it does, it may be damaging the teeth. So, when toothpick is used properly, it can help keep the areas between the teeth clean. So be careful not to get too aggressive with the toothpick because it can cause abrasion and hurt the gum, leading to gum disease and other problems, said Dr Obimakinde.

Thumb sucking

Thumb sucking is seen commonly in children and is often a problem of concern. Many normal children suck their thumbs for short periods during infancy and early childhood.

Experts say that sucking habits during milk teeth years will have little or no long-term effect. But if the habit continues beyond the time when the permanent teeth (incisors) begin to erupt, it can affect the child’s teeth, including causing flaring out of upper incisors, spacing between upper incisors and narrow upper jaw.

Chewing vitamin C

Chewing vitamin C is worse than chewing a cube of sugar due to its acidic nature. The acid has the potential to erode tooth enamel and may lead to increased cavities, particularly in those who are lacking minerals, such as calcium and phosphorus.

If your stomach is sensitive, it may also cause heartburn or an upset stomach. It is better to stick to vitamins in pill form. Vitamin C should never be taken in a manner which leaves residues of it on the teeth for an extended time.

Chewing tobacco

Tobacco products can cause gum disease, contributes to tooth decay and actually causes oral cancer. According to Dr Ijarogbe, chewing tobacco leaves does not only discolour the teeth, it is also deleterious to health. Tobacco is a precursor to many conditions, including cancer of the mouth.

Sugars

Added sugars are often present in soft drinks, sweets and pastries. “Most refined foods contain sugar, food that bacteria in the mouth feed upon and afterward, the by-product, a dilute acid that wears away the tooth structure and causes tooth cavity to occur. That is the beginning of tooth decay,” he said.a