“It is easier to prevent bad habits than to break them.” – Benjamin Franklin.
In the spirit of this quote, I address some of the most common dental-related bad habits I have seen over the years with the following two goals in mind:
- To enable parents to identify these habits early on in their children if they exist, and nip them in the bud;
- To point out to readers who may already have acquired these habits, how harmful they can be to their wellbeing and to inspire them to quit.
1) Cheek-biting
While some cannot help biting their cheeks due to a malocclusion, others engage in this ongoing activity completely out of habit. The lesions and ulcers caused by this habit are for the most part harmless, but they can be painful. Talk with your dentist about solutions he or she can offer including special ointments and appliances.
2) Nail-biting
2) Nail-bitingBiting nails can wear teeth down over time, throw off tooth alignment, and crack and chip teeth. It can also affect one’s overall health by allowing germs to pass into the bloodstream.
3) Eating and drinking foods and beverages that are not good for us
It seems that those foods and drinks we love the most are the worst for us. Be mindful of what we are putting into our bodies and the impact our dietary choices can have on our bodies and our teeth. While it’s probably not realistic to cut out everything that has a high sugar or acid content, be mindful of not overdoing it. Drink tooth-staining beverages like coffee and red wine in moderation. Have soda only as an occasional treat. Stay away from highly sugared foods and water down kids’ juices to break these dietary habits of which so many of us are guilty.
4) Chewing on non-edible objects
Pencil-chewing and gnawing on other non-edible objects can take its toll on teeth, wearing them down, and causing them to chip, crack or break.
5) Teeth grinding and jaw clenching
Teeth grinding, or Bruxism, is experienced by as many as 20% of the population. It can have serious and long-lasting affects on one’s oral and general health including cracks in teeth, excessive tooth wear, earaches, jaw soreness, headaches, loose teeth, and the list goes on. Your dentist has solutions. This is a habit that should not be left untreated.
6) Smoking
6) SmokingThis is a habit that I hope all smokers will work on breaking. The negative impact of smoking on one’s oral health is significant and includes increased levels of dental plaque, more cavities, shifting teeth, mouth sores, bone loss, gum disease, increased healing times of the mouth and of course, a higher risk of oral and other cancer.
7) Thumb-sucking
7) Thumb-suckingApproximately 20% of children ages 2 to 6 suck their thumbs and it is a habit that parents should try to break as early as possible. Recent research shows that significant long-term damage can be done even by very young thumb-suckers including tooth overcrowding, the collapse of the upper jaw, a poor bite and a misshapen smile. I treat many of my young patients as young as 5 years of age with Early Orthodontics, to reverse the damage caused by this habit.
Steven Deskin is a Dentist in general practice.
