Humans have hit the evolutionary jackpot in a lot of ways except for one: we only get one set of adult teeth to last our entire lifetime. That’s why it’s imperative that you protect your teeth and gums from bad dental habits so that they can last for decades to come.

But developing good dental habits is a lot easier said than done, especially considering how many bad habits come naturally to us. If your local dentist has ever discussed bad dental habits with you, then chances are you may already be tackling some of the 10 bad habits we’ve outlined below. If not, consider this guide to be a resource for supporting a lifetime’s worth of good dental health, not only for you but also for your children.

The 10 bad dental habits that can harm your teeth are:

Teeth grinding (bruxism)
Brushing your teeth too hard
Snacking on sugary foods
Using toothpicks
Using teeth as tools
Smoking or chewing tobacco
Nail biting and chewing on objects
Thumb sucking is considered as bad dental habits
Playing sports without a mouthguard
Missing dental check-ups

Read on to unearth 10 bad dental habits that can harm your teeth and gums, and how you can combat these behaviours.

1. Teeth grinding (bruxism)

The clinical name for ‘teeth grinding’ is bruxism, and it is a more common dental condition among children than you may think. As this particular bad habit is one that occurs subconsciously, many patients with bruxism find it difficult to curb the behaviour.

Thankfully, there are ways to combat bad dental habits such as teeth grinding and our medical clinic can absolutely be your first stop on this journey to recovery. Your dental clinic can equip you or your children with mouthguards that can be worn during sleep to prevent subconscious teeth grinding. Also, bad habits for teeth such as teeth grinding can often be triggered by a stress response, removing causes for stress has also proven to be effective, alongside seeking psychological treatments.

2. Brushing your teeth too hard

Did you know that it is actually possible to brush your teeth too vigorously? Bad dental habits that are hard to believe right? Brushing your teeth with excess force may actually cause damage to your teeth in a number of ways, including prematurely wearing down your teeth’s enamel protective coating. So how can you make sure that you’re not brushing your teeth too hard?

Dentists always recommend that their patients use toothbrushes with gentle bristles, and brush in a slower, rounded motion rather than vigorously from side to side. Maintaining these brushing practices can help keep your enamel intact and your teeth clean and plaque-free between your daily brushes.

3. Snacking on sugary foods

It’s no secret that sugary and high-acidity foods can wreak havoc on your teeth and gums. But did you know how exactly? Tooth plaque forms when natural bacteria in your mouth react with sugar. In this way, excess sugar consumption can quicken the development of plaque and tartar in your teeth. If left unchecked, dental plaque build-up can result in the development of tooth decay, which can lead to the loss of teeth if left unchecked and in extreme cases, gum disease.

Maintaining an awareness of precisely what sugar can do to your teeth can naturally help curb the ongoing effect of bad habits for teeth like sugary substances. And don’t forget to brush your teeth twice a day, alongside flossing and using anti-bacterial mouthwash regularly as well.

4. Using toothpicks

Although it may feel satisfying to pick food debris out of your mouth after a hearty meal, toothpicks are actually more of a danger than you may think them to be. Their sharp design can easily cause damage to your teeth and gums, even if they’re effective at removing residue between your teeth.

Flossing can help avoid bad dental habits like this and is guaranteed to be a more gentle and effective alternative to toothpick use. So instead of poking your teeth and gums with a sharp pick to remove stubborn bits of food, we highly recommend carrying a travel-sized spool of floss instead. That way, you can still feel comfortable cleaning your teeth after a meal without having to worry about causing any damage to your mouth.

5. Using teeth as tools

Although it may be tempting to rip up the sticky tape and other things with your teeth, this among bad habits for teeth can easily result in completely avoidable damage to your teeth. The excess force or pressure placed on your teeth when using them for purposes other than chewing food may lead to your teeth becoming chipped or cracked.

Any kind of damage to your teeth can result in your tooth pulp becoming exposed, which can in turn lead to teeth sensitivity or even tooth infections. Tooth infections can be corrected with caps or crowns if they’re caught early. However, if left unchecked, infected teeth may need to be extricated, and affected patients will require dental implants.

6. Smoking or chewing tobacco

Smoking is one of the most common causes of teeth discolouration, amongst a slew of other medical conditions. But the negative effects that tobacco can have on your teeth don’t just stop at turning your pearly whites an off-putting shade of yellow or brown. Regular tobacco smoking or even chewing can drastically increase your risks of experiencing tooth decay, gum disease, halitosis (or bad breath), dry mouth, and even oral cancer.

Although teeth whitening services may be able to correct tooth discolouration caused by smoking or tobacco use, the best way to prevent the potentially disastrous consequences of this bad habit is to give up the habit altogether. Both your dentist and your local GP will be able to provide you with resources on quitting smoking.

7. Nail biting and chewing on objects

Similarly to using your teeth as tools, chewing on anything that isn’t food does have the potential to cause damage to your teeth and gums in a number of different ways – ranging from superficial damage to your teeth and all the way to possible gum infections.

Thankfully, eliminating bad dental habits like this can be as simple as stopping yourself every time you do find yourself subconsciously putting a pen or pencil to your mouth. Nail biting can also be curbed by painting your nails with nail polish as well as keeping your nails trimmed short to reduce the likelihood of absent-minded biting.

8. Thumb sucking is considered as bad dental habits

Most parents aren’t aware that bad habits for teeth such as thumb sucking can actually lead to the development of dental problems for children. Although thumb sucking is an innocent enough habit for toddlers, prolonged practice has the potential to result in misaligned teeth or jaw issues which will need to be corrected with orthodontic treatments.

The Better Health Channel stipulates that parents can typically expect their children to stop sucking their thumb between the ages of two and four. If your children are over the age of five and still exhibiting this behaviour, consider consulting your paediatrician or kids dental practitioner for resources on weaning your child off of their thumb-sucking habit.

9. Playing sports without a mouthguard

Cases of dental trauma are sadly a lot more common than you may think. But the worst part about the high frequency of dental trauma cases that we see coming through our clinic doors is the fact that all of them are actually highly preventable.

You can avoid experiencing damage to your teeth and mouth when engaging in physical activity by simply wearing a custom fitted sports mouthguard. By wearing a mouthguard, any falls or blows to the face are significantly less likely to cause damage to your teeth.

Nowadays, you can easily purchase boil and bite mouthguards online or even schedule an appointment with your local dentist to secure a mouthguard that’s been moulded perfectly to fit your teeth and gums.

10. Missing dental check-ups

Last but certainly not least, taking a proactive approach to your dental health is one of the most positive dental habits that you can develop. Contrastingly, missing scheduled dental check-ups and other appointments is a growing concern among bad habits for teeth. Which can result in your developing dental problems like undetected tooth decay. You don’t want to wait until something hurts to go and see your dentist.

Ideally, adults and older children should be scheduling routine check-ups with their trusted dental health practitioners every six months at the very least. If you’re currently undergoing orthodontic treatment, you may need to schedule more frequent visits. Be sure to consult with your trusted family dentist to determine how often you should be securing check-ups for monitoring your dental health.

Want to set yourself on the path to better dental health and avoid bad dental habits? Then, Contact Dentaservice today or call us at (03) 9401 2120 to schedule your next appointment with our expert Epping dental team. The road to a lifetime of good dental health starts right here.