Ways To Ruin Your Smile
There are a lot of things that you can do that can ruin your smile. By learning what these things are you can make sure you avoid them and end up maintaining a brighter, healthier smile you can be proud of. Here are some of the many things that you can be doing that may be putting your smile at risk:
Biting your fingernails
There are many reasons why biting your fingernails is a bad habit to start, or continue with. First of all, there are so many disgusting germs under your nails that you will be putting right into your mouth. Also, you can end up with painful hangnails. When it comes to your teeth, you can end up getting fingernail splinters stuck between your teeth that can even end up causing gum problems if the nail cuts your gums.
Using a wooden toothpick
When you stick a wooden toothpick between your teeth it can break and splinters can end up in your gums which can lead to problems like infection setting in. It's much better to use dental floss. You can purchase it on a stick, so it's easier to work between your teeth than the long string floss that can be awkward.
Drinking fluids known for staining teeth
When you eat foods known to stain teeth, you may wash them down with water, milk or other fluids that may not contribute to staining. However, when you sip on stain causing fluids throughout the day that are known for contributing to stains and discoloration of teeth it can be worse than eating the wrong foods because the fluids usually sit in your mouth longer without being rinsed down with another neutral or even tooth-friendly drink.
Not getting treatment for bruxism
If you find out you are grinding your teeth it can be easy to ignore the problem, since most times you are asleep when it happens. As long as you don't have a spouse or partner who minds too much, you can put it on the back burner and not give it another thought as long as it isn't causing you to suffer symptoms like headaches or a tender jaw. However, putting off treatment, which is usually as simple as wearing a night guard, will eventually lead to worn enamel that leaves you more susceptible to cavities, fractures, chipping and other dental problems that can affect your smile.
For more information about preventive dentistry in your area, schedule an appointment with your dentist.