If you care about your smile, you probably know oral care basics. Namely, you’re aware that you should brush twice daily, floss once daily, and see your dentist often. Still, a healthy mouth requires more than just these habits. You also need to be mindful of what goes in your mouth. Otherwise, you’ll hurt your pearly whites and suffer a dental emergency. Luckily, your Kent dentists are here with helpful guidance. Read on to learn four things you should never put in your mouth.
Hard Candies
Hard candies can be pretty tasty. Jawbreakers, lollipops, and such are some of the sweetest treats. However, you’re ultimately better off without them.
You see, hard candies aren’t good for your pearly whites. They take time to dissolve and thus expose your enamel to lots of tooth-decaying sugar. As a result, going overboard with them can lead to cavities and gum disease. Also, chewing on them can cause cracked teeth and cuts inside your mouth.
Your Fingernails
Like many people, maybe you chew on your fingernails occasionally. That’s normal enough – nail-biting is a common nervous habit. Even so, you really should try to avoid this practice.
Truthfully, nail biting is harmful to your enamel. In particular, it cracks the tooth layer until your teeth become hypersensitive. Worse yet, this kind of biting stresses the joints of your jawbone. Such pressure can then trigger grinding and clenching, causing pain in your teeth, ears, and jaw.
Cigarettes
Indeed, you likely know that cigarettes aren’t good for your physical health. They cause cancer and all sorts of other diseases. Beyond these effects, though, cigarettes also do a number on your mouth.
To be clear, cigarettes are deeply harmful to your oral health. They often irritate your gum tissue and subsequently cause gum disease. Furthermore, the sticks stain teeth with sickly yellow and brown colors. Adding insult to injury, they even give you bad breath as well.
Ice Cubes
For various reasons, many like to chew on ice cubes and ice chips. They find the activity oddly satisfying due to the crunch and cold involved. Unfortunately, the action has more downsides than upsides.
By chewing on ice, you’re likely to harm your teeth. A tooth can easily fracture from pressing against a hard ice cube. If you really need something cold in your mouth, many dentists suggest sipping cold drinks through a straw. That way, you’re less tempted to crunch the ice.
To ensure a thriving smile, remember that there are things you should never put in your mouth. Your teeth and gums will thank you for doing so.
About the Practice
Complete Dental Care is based in Kent, WA. Led by Drs. Manpreet Dhaliwal, Navi Dhaliwal, and Donald Hainer, our practice offers top-quality dentistry for the whole family. To that end, we perform preventive, cosmetic, and restorative work, as well as emergency dental services. These latter procedures even include root canal therapy and tooth extractions! For more information or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (253)-854-2714.