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You brush, floss, and go to the dentist on a regular basis to maintain your smile bright and healthy, but do you know which practices really harm your teeth? Snacking on sugary foods between meals is certainly a poor habit, but some other behaviors that harm teeth are less visible. Is there anything you do every day that jeopardizes your dental health? Here are some bad oral hygiene behaviors to avoid.

1. Brushing Your Teeth and Gums Excessively

Yes, it is possible to overbrush your teeth. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), using a firm-bristled toothbrush or brushing too forcefully might harm your gums and teeth. To prevent this, wash your teeth gently in broad strokes with a soft-bristled toothbrush.

2. Biting Your Nails

Consider the potential harm to your jaw and teeth if you need another reason to quit chewing your nails. Nail biting, according to the ADA, may cause jaw dysfunction since it leads you to maintain your jaw in a protruded posture for lengthy periods of time. Nail biting may also cause tooth damage. To break the habit, paint your nails with nail polish.

3. Ice Chewing

Do you mindlessly nibble on the leftover ice cubes after completing a nice, delicious drink? To avoid the danger of a damaged tooth or filling, the ADA suggests sipping via a straw or drinking without ice to help you stop the habit.

4. Teeth Clenching or Grinding

Clenching and grinding one's teeth is a common subconscious behavior, but it may lead to tooth damage, muscular discomfort, and limited jaw mobility. The ADA advises relaxation techniques, a nocturnal mouth guard, and being more aware of when the clenching or grinding begins to help avoid this hazardous practice.

5. Use of Tobacco

Tobacco products, whether cigarettes, cigars, or chewing tobacco, are all detrimental to your teeth and gums, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Tobacco use raises your chances of developing gum disease, foul breath, dry mouth, tooth decay, and oral cancer. Consult your doctor about cigarette cessation programs.

6. Thumb or Finger Sucking

Sucking thumbs or fingers is normal for newborns, but beyond the age of five, the behavior may lead to misaligned teeth, according to the Cleveland Clinic. This misalignment might lead to major tooth issues as the youngster gets older. If your kid is 5 or older and still sucking their thumb or finger, their doctor or pediatric dentist can help you wean them off thumb sucking.

7. Making Use of Toothpicks

After a meal, you may believe it's a good idea to remove food particles from your teeth with a toothpick or another non-dental device, but the Mayo Clinic warns that this practice might harm and infect your gums. To remove food lodged between your teeth, floss or use ADA-approved dental cleaning equipment.

8. Improper Use of Your Teeth

According to the ADA, if you hold anything in your teeth or bite open a box, you risk harm to your jaw or a shattered tooth. Take your time and avoid using your teeth as a third hand or a pair of scissors.

9. Drinking Soda

According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, consuming carbonated soft drinks on a regular basis may lead to damaged tooth enamel. Replace bottled water with plain water (ideally fluoridated), milk, or green or black tea. These may assist to build your enamel and protect your teeth from microorganisms in your mouth.

10. Eating Sugary Snacks

According to the American Dental Association, consuming high-sugar snacks between meals feeds the germs in your mouth that cause tooth decay. Eat balanced meals to reduce hunger between meals, and if you do eat anything sweet, drink lots of water afterward.

11. Ignoring the Dentist

Along with these tooth-damaging practices, neglecting preventative dental treatment might have an influence on your oral health. It's easy to convince yourself that you're too busy for a dental exam, or that the pang of discomfort you feel every time you bite down will go away on its own but don't put off seeing your dentist. Make the effort to schedule a dentist appointment the next time you're tempted to put it off.