Cigarettes, as well as other tobacco products, not only stain teeth but can cause them to fall out as a result of gum disease. Tobacco can also cause cancer of the mouth, lips, and tongue. If you were looking for one more reason to quit, think of your smile.

Coffee Drinking and Dental Health

If you enjoy drinking coffee on a daily bases it could be hard to maintain white teeth. Coffee’s dark color and acidity can cause yellowing of the teeth over time. Fortunately, it is one of the easiest stains to treat with various whitening methods. Talk to your dentist if you are concerned about discoloration of your teeth. Another tip is to drink your coffee though a straw to limit contact on your teeth.

Chewing on Pencils Often times people chew on their pencil when concentrating on work or studies? However, crunching on ice, this bad habit can cause teeth to chip or crack. Sugarless gum is a better option when you feel the need to chew. It will trigger the flow of saliva, which can make teeth stronger and protect against enamel-eating acids.

Potato Chips and Your Dental Health

You might want to floss your teeth after eating potato chips or other starchy foods that tend to get stuck in the teeth. The bacteria in plaque 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.

Fruit Juice and Your Dental Health

Fruit juice is loaded with vitamins and antioxidants and has some good overall health benefits, but unfortunately most juices are also loaded with sugar. Some juices can have as much sugar per serving as soda. For example, there are only 10 more grams of sugar in orange soda than in orange juice. Fruits are naturally sweet, so look for juice that has no added sugar. You can also reduce the sugar content by diluting juice with some water.

Okay at least one time in our lives we have open packaging with our teeth. However doing this is not good for our teeth and in fact can cause serious damage to them. Opening bottle caps or plastic packaging with your teeth may be convenient, but using your teeth as tools can cause them to crack or chip. Instead, keep scissors and bottle openers handy. Bottom line, your teeth should only be used for eating.

Dental Care and Soda

When it comes to added sugar candy is not the only culprit. Many sodas have up to 11 teaspoons of sugar per serving. In addition sodas also contain phosphoric and citric acids, which eat away at tooth enamel. You are not all that much saver with diet soda either. Diet soda lets you skip the sugar, but they may have even more acid in the form of the artificial sweeteners.

You do not have to stop drinking these types of drinks all together, however try limiting the amount you drink. Also rinse your mouth out with water after having these types of drinks whenever possible. Another good tip is do not sip soda though out the day. If you are going to drink soda and or diet soda then drink it with a meal.

All sugary treats can promote tooth decay, however some candies are worse then others. Gummies candies tend to stick on and in between teeth, keeping the resulting acids in contact with your tooth enamel for hours. We are not saying you can not eat gummy candy but if you do be mindful of this fact.

Make sure to brush and floss extra well after having these gummy treats. Also try having these types of candies during a meal instead of as a separate snack. More saliva is produced during meals, which helps rinse away candy bits and acids.

Grinding teeth Bruxism or other wise know as teeth grinding, is a serious dental issue that needs to be address by your dentist. Teeth grinding can wear teeth down over time, as well as chip or crack your teeth. It is most often caused by stress and sleeping habits, which can make this dental issue hard to control.

Avoiding hard foods during the day can reduce pain and damage from this habit. Wearing a mouth guard at night can prevent the damage caused by grinding while sleeping.

Be Careful About Tongue Piercings

We are not saying not to get tongue piercings if you want to, however be mindful of the risks of having a tongue piercing. Biting down on the metal stud can crack a tooth. Lip piercings pose a similar risk. And when metal rubs against the gums, it can cause gum damage that may lead to tooth loss. The mouth is also a haven for bacteria, so piercings increases the risk of infections and sores. Think about discussing the health risks with your dentist first.

Giving a baby a bedtime bottle of juice, milk, or formula, can put new teeth on a path to dental decay. The baby may become used to falling asleep with the bottle in his or her mouth, bathing the teeth in sugars overnight. It is best to keep bottles out of the crib. However if you must give your baby a bottle fill it only with water.

Safe Your Teeth By Wearing a Mouth Guard

Whether you play football, hockey, baseball or any other contact sport, do not get in the game without a mouth guard. A mouth guard protects the upper row of teeth. Without it, your teeth could get chipped or even knocked out when the action gets rough. Self-fitting mouth guards may be purchased at a store, or you can have one custom made by your dentist.