Are You Ruining Your Teeth and Don’t Know It?

 We’ve covered a lot of information about how to get and keep your smile healthy and strong at my dental office in Charlottesville. However, there are many common habits and situations that can cause damage to your teeth, and chances are, you’ve done at least one without ever thinking about the fact that you could be hurting your smile.

Crunching Ice

Using your teeth to crunch the unmelted ice in your drink can be detrimental to the health of your smile. Ice cubes can chip away at your tooth enamel and can even lead to a broken tooth or broken restoration.

Brushing Too Hard

While I’m happy you’re brushing (and hopefully flossing too!), at my dental office in Charlottesville, we always encourage our patients to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and to brush in small circles. This can actually protect your enamel. Toothbrushes with hard bristles, or using rough, horizontal strokes, can damage enamel and leave you open to experiencing sensitivity.

Whitening Too Often

We all want our pearly whites to be exactly that – pearly white! And while teeth whitening is safe and effective, doing it too often can cause damage to your smile. Too much whitening can cause sensitivity, irritation, and can even result in a smile that’s too white. If you’re interested in a whiter smile, my Charlottesville dental office can help get you the brightening you’re looking for, safely and effectively.

Eating Too Many Acidic Foods

Acidic foods and drinks like lemons, orange juice, and wine can wear away your enamel. And once your enamel is gone, you can’t grow it back. This can cause sensitivity or even pain. As your dentist in Charlottesville, I’m not expecting you avoid these types of food and drink, but I do encourage you to minimize the damage by drinking water with anything acidic. And if you’ve got to have that morning glass of orange juice, use a straw to limit how much juice comes in contact with your teeth.

Using Teeth as Tools

You know the feeling. You have a stubborn package that just won’t open, so instead of finding the scissors, you put the package in your mouth and use your teeth as a opening tool. Using your teeth as tools is always a bad idea and can result in broken teeth, mouth injuries, and damaged restorations.

In addition to these five smile-harming habits, there are many other ways you can be causing damage to your teeth without even knowing it. During a visit to my Charlottesville dental office, we can talk about any habits you may have that could be harming your smile, and how to fix them. If you’re due for a checkup, or if you’re concerned with your grin, give me a call today!

About The Author

Dr. Jack T. Kayton

Dr. Jack T. Kayton has served families in Charlottesville and surrounding areas since 1994 through his general and family dentistry private practice. Believing that everyone deserves quality dental care, he donates his time to worthy causes. He volunteers at the Donated Dental Service and the Charlottesville Free Clinic. His professional affiliations include the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and the Academy of General Dentistry, among others.

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