8 bad habits that are damaging your teeth and how to treat them

8 bad habits that are damaging your teeth and how to treat them

Everyone longs for clean, well-groomed white teeth. In addition to increasing self-confidence, healthy teeth are also the basis for a healthy body. But sometimes you don't realize that you have bad habits that can damage your teeth.

Here are some habits you should break immediately if you want to have healthy and shiny teeth:

1. Chew ice cream
You may think this habit is harmless, but chewing ice cream puts you at risk of breaking your teeth. Snowflakes can also irritate the gums. So if you feel like chewing on ice, turn it off and replace it with sugar free gum.



2. Training without a mouthguard
Sport is fun. However, if you play without a mouthguard, there is a chance that your teeth will be damaged by impact or hard objects. Some sports pose a risk of injury to the face, including the mouth, which in some cases has been shown to be broken front teeth due to injury sustained during the sport.



3. Suck the pacifier
If you bottle-feed your baby often, this habit can affect abnormalities and tooth decay later. To avoid this, avoid letting your baby fall asleep while his teeth are still biting his pacifier so the sugar in the milk doesn't stick to his teeth.


4. Teeth grinding
This habit is known as bruxism and can damage teeth. The cause is stress-related and usually occurs during sleep without the patient noticing. Usually, the dentist will provide a mouthguard in the form of a mouthguard to use while you sleep to protect your teeth from further damage.


5. Sweet foods and carbonated drinks
Sweets are your teeth's worst enemy. Candy and soft drinks high in sugar stick to your teeth and are converted by bacteria into acid that can damage your teeth. This can lead to tooth decay in your teeth



6. Opening or biting something with your teeth
Opening a bottle cap, tearing a snack wrapper, or biting a pencil with your teeth can cause tooth decay. You should be aware that teeth are a part of the body that has the function of chewing, aesthetics and speaking. It is therefore a good idea to pay more attention to your teeth and maintain their health by eliminating bad habits.



7. Drink coffee and wine
The acids in coffee and wine (red wine) can yellow your teeth and damage the enamel on the tooth surface. Stains caused by consuming these beverages can be removed with the help of a dentist, but tooth enamel damage from acids from wine can only be prevented by reducing this habit.



8. Smoking
Smoking not only yellows teeth and causes gum disease, it can also cause oral cancer. So you still want to smoke? Also, choose a toothpaste that is good for tooth enamel health, contains HAP Mineral & Fluoride to aid in the process of remineralizing tooth enamel, and contains microgranules, which are fine granules that can clean between teeth.

Tips for good dental care

To understand more, here are some ways you can practice to maintain healthy teeth:

        1. Brushing your teeth

It is recommended to brush your teeth regularly, which is right for two minutes twice a day. This dental care habit can be started every morning after breakfast.

However, you should wait about 30-60 minutes before brushing your teeth, especially if you have acidic foods or drinks like toast, oranges, or coffee.

This is to prevent the tooth enamel (the protective layer of the teeth) that has been damaged by acidic foods or drinks from lifting when you brush your teeth.

It is also recommended to brush your teeth in the evening before going to bed. This dental treatment is good for removing germs and plaque from food or drink residue that has accumulated throughout the day. It is also recommended to floss at least once a day.  


2. Choose a toothpaste that contains fluoride. 

Make sure the toothpaste you choose contains fluoride. Dental treatment with fluoride toothpaste can inhibit the growth of tooth decay-causing bacteria.

In addition, fluoride can strengthen tooth enamel and make teeth more resistant to plaque acids that cause tooth decay.

3.Use of mouthwash

Using mouthwash or mouthwash can clean between teeth that cannot be reached with a toothbrush or floss. In addition, gargling with an antiseptic mouthwash at least once a day can help prevent plaque build-up and gum disease.

4. Limit your consumption of sugary foods or drinks

Some of the dental care steps above should be balanced by limiting the consumption of sugary foods or drinks. Because sugary foods or drinks can increase the production of acids that damage tooth enamel.

Not only that, the habit of not brushing your teeth after eating or drinking sugary foods can cause food or drink residue to stick to your teeth longer. This habit can accelerate tooth decay.

In addition to limiting sugary foods and drinks, you should increase your consumption of fruits and vegetables and water to avoid harming dental health. 

5. Check your teeth regularly at the doctor's

The dental care you perform above is very important to overall dental and oral health. Nevertheless, you should visit the dentist regularly at least every six months.

Regular visits to the dentist aim to remove plaque that might be missed when brushing or flossing your teeth. The dentist may also perform tartar removal to remove tartar that cannot be reached during routine daily dental care.

Dental care doesn't have to wait for teeth to rot. Start maintaining oral and dental health by routinely using the above dental care.

If you have adopted good dental hygiene habits but are experiencing symptoms such as sores or sores in your mouth that won't heal, bleeding gums, or teeth that are too sensitive to high or low temperatures, or tooth decay, see a dentist immediately.

The dentist will conduct a series of tests and determine the right treatment based on the symptoms you are experiencing. The doctor also gives advice on good dental care.