fbpx

Four bad habits that can affect your oral health

Dr. Jessica Wyatt, General Dentist, Elite Dental and Aesthetics

131 NW 100th Ave

Plantation, FL 33324

954.476.4537

PlantationDentist.com

Bad habits are hard to break, we all know this. But did you know that your teeth are actually not that hard to break? You only get one set of adult teeth in life, and it’s crucial that you take good care of them. Here are four tips I share with my patients on how to keep your teeth lasting long and strong:

1) DON’T chew on non-food items, including ice! Our teeth may appear hard, but they’re actually quite flexible and can be broken. Habits such as chewing fingernails, pens, toothpicks, and even ice can easily fracture teeth. Sometimes when teeth break, we can save them, but other times teeth can fracture and have to be removed!

2) DON’T use your teeth as tools. Using your teeth to open bottles or packages can be very dangerous. Even if your tooth doesn’t break right away, the repeated stress on your teeth when you use them as tools can lead to microfractures in the teeth that can lead to sensitivity and future fracture.

3) DON’T smoke. Smoking is an obvious bad habit for many reasons, and its impact on the oral cavity is no exception. Not only does smoking cause yellowing of the teeth, bad breath, gum disease, and can increase risk of decay, it can also greatly increase your chases of getting oral cancer! The sooner you stop smoking, the better.

4) DON’T grind or clench your teeth. This one may be easier said than done, but thankfully there are treatments we can offer to help you with this. Grinding and clenching your teeth can wear down and even fracture them! In my office, one of the more popular procedures to help with this is Botox® to help relax the muscle that can cause grinding and clenching. It’s a virtually pain-free procedure that can work wonders and can have the added bonus of helping with headaches caused by grinding and clenching.

Old habits are hard to break but these 4 bad habits are ones you’ll certainly want to avoid in order to keep your teeth strong and healthy. Your smile will thank you!

You May Also Like

Cook Together! Stay Together!

Lenore Nolan-Ryan Lenore Nolan Ryan Catering & Cooking School Galt Ocean Plaza 3311 North Ocean Blvd, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33308 954.491.2340 lenorenolanryan.com Why do I love teaching cooking classes? It isn’t just about the cooking. It’s about you. It’s an evolving experience between you and the ingredients, the equipment, and the interaction with your friends,

How Long Does Menopause Last?

Carolyn Zaumeyer Nurse Practitioner LowTE Florida 4540 N. Federal Highway Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 954.791.4498 LowTEFlorida.com I am asked this all the time ~ The interesting answer is (as you probably guessed) it is different for everyone. Some women breeze through menopause without a hot flash or any of the other obvious symptoms. But for

Carolyn Zaumeyer
The Art of Entertaining

Lenore Nolan-Ryan Lenore Nolan Ryan Catering & Cooking School Galt Ocean Plaza 3311 North Ocean Blvd, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33308 954.491.2340 lenorenolanryan.com When I am asked the question “how do you throw a great party?” It is without hesitation I say, “pick a theme!” Hosting a gathering small or large, in your backyard, living room,

Lenore Ryan
Valentine’s Day: A Catered Affair

Lenore Nolan-Ryan Lenore Nolan Ryan Catering & Cooking School Galt Ocean Plaza 3311 North Ocean Blvd, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33308 954.491.2340 lenorenolanryan.com Valentine’s Day is celebrated every year on February 14 and is considered the most romantic holiday of the year. The holiday’s roots are ancient and related to a Christian martyr, Saint Valentine of

Lenore Ryan

Other Posts

Crypto-Backed Mortgages

Randy Gilbert, J.D. Chief Happiness Officer Florida’s Title Insurance Company [email protected] (954) 500-Title (8485)  CRYPTO-BACKED MORTGAGES  In this article, I interviewed crypto-lender Milo, because it is locally headquartered in Miami, was a featured speaker at the Miami Association of Realtors’ 2022 Global Congress at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables last month, closed over $100

Randy Gilbert
For the Love of Food

Lenore Nolan-Ryan Lenore Nolan Ryan Catering & Cooking School Galt Ocean Plaza 3311 North Ocean Blvd, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33308 954.491.2340 lenorenolanryan.com Are you a Foodie? Are you an Epicurista? Are you a Culinarian? Are you a Gourmand, a Gourmet? What does it all mean? Are you one? Are you one and don’t know it?

Lenore Ryan
Collaborating for a Better South Florida

Roger Lopez Chief Operating Officer United HomeCare 305-716-0719 UnitedHomeCare.com Older adults are living longer and as the U.S. population ages, more and more people are handling long-term care planning for themselves or their loved ones. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there’s a 70 percent chance that a person retiring today

Are You Hormone Curious?

Carolyn Zaumeyer Nurse Practitioner LowTE Florida 4540 N. Federal Highway Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 954.791.4498 Would you like to learn more about hormone therapy to decide if it is right for you? Since the pandemic began, I have been providing free virtual consultations for women and men from all over the country. I have many

Carolyn Zaumeyer