Regular brushing and flossing helps keep your teeth and gums healthy, and helps to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. But do you have one or more bad habits that can undermine the good ones and compromise your dental health

1. 7 Habits that will wreck your teeth!
www.dentistnewbury.co.ukDental Practice

2. Chewing on Ice
Munching on hard, frozen cubes can chip or
even crack your teeth. If your chomping
irritates the soft tissue inside your 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 for ice, chew some sugar-
free gum instead.

3. Fizzy Drinks
Fizzy drinks can have up to 11 teaspoons
of sugar per serving and also contain
phosphoric and citric acids, which eat
away at tooth enamel. Diet soft drinks
may have even more acid in the form of
the artificial sweeteners.

4. Chewy sweets
Sweets like jelly babies stick in the teeth,
keeping the sugar and acids in contact with
your enamel for hours. If your day just isn't
the same without a sweet, have a couple
during a meal instead of as a separate
snack. More saliva is produced during
meals, which helps rinse away a sweet’s
residue and any acids.

5. Fruit Juice
Dr. Kathy Harley, dean of the dental faculty
at the Royal College of Surgeons, warns
parents that smoothies and juices contain
high acid levels and sugar content that can
destroy young teeth.

6. Grinding Teeth
Stress can cause you to grind your teeth and
wear them down over time. Avoiding hard
food during the day can reduce pain and
damage from this habit. Wearing a special
mouth guard at night can help protect your
teeth while you sleep.

7. Tongue piercings
Tongue piercings may be trendy, but 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 increase the risk of infections and
sores. Discuss the health risks with your
dentist first.

8. Playing sport with no
mouth guard
Whether you play rugby, hockey or any other
contact sport, don't get into the game
without a mouth guard. This is a piece of
moulded plastic that 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 sports shop, or you
can have one custom made by your dentist.