Do you know that twenty five percent of adults over age 65 have lost all their teeth? Do you know that there are shocking habits you engage in unknowingly that can wreck your Teeth and send you flying to your dentist for emergency?
If you say no, here are the top 5 shocking habits that can wreck our teeth faster than we imagine:
1. Chewing on Ice:
It’s natural and sugar free, so you might think ice is harmless. But munching on hard, frozen cubes can chip or even crack your teeth. And if your mindless chomping irritates the soft tissue inside a tooth, regular toothaches may follow. Hot foods and cold foods may trigger quick, sharp jabs of pain or a lingering toothache. Next time you get the urge to chew ice, chew some sugarless gum instead.
2. Opening Stuff With Your Teeth:
Opening bottle caps or plastic packaging with your teeth may be convenient, but this is one habit that makes dentists cringe. Using your teeth as tools can cause them to crack or chip. Instead, keep scissors bottle openers handy or other similar tools. I shiver when I see people open stuffs, especially bottle caps with their teeth! It’s so unhealthy; avoid it totally if you can! Bottom line, your teeth should only be used for eating.
3. Constant Snacking:
Snacking produces less saliva than a meal, thus, leaving food bits in your teeth for hours longer. Avoid snacking too frequently, and stick to snacks that are low in sugar and starch—for example, carrot sticks.
4. Potato Chips:
The bacteria in plaque will also break down starchy foods into acid. This acid can attack the teeth for the next 20 minutes—even longer if the food is stuck between the teeth or you snack often. You might want to floss after eating potato chips or other starchy foods that tend to get stuck in the teeth.
5. Drinking Coffee:
Coffee’s dark color and acidity can cause yellowing of the teeth over time. Fortunately, it’s one of the easiest stains to treat with various whitening methods. But, you still need to reduce the coffee drinking habit. Also talk to your dentist if you’re concerned about discoloration of your teeth.
If you are involved in any of these, I strongly advise you reduce or totally stop it to prevent losing all your teeth before you should! I may not be available to grind your meals to edible forms for you! Lol!
Let’s hear any other habit you know about below!
