Strong healthy teeth and a beautiful healthy smile requires good daily habits. Good habits include drinking plenty of water and good hygiene. Bad habits can derail a smile’s health as much as good habits can keep health on track. Habits are simple, but they are not necessarily easy to gain or break. There is lots of advice on how to break bad habits. One piece of advice that might help when it comes to bad habits for the smile is to replace a bad habit with a good one. If you have a bad habit that you think may be negatively affecting your smile, talk to your dental team in Olathe, KS for recommendations on how to replace it with a good smile habit.
Brushing Only Once a Day
When life gets hectic, some essential things can fall to the back of the line. If you wake up late in the morning, you might skip brushing your teeth. Conversely, you might have a bad habit of falling asleep in front of the television, which means you skip your bedtime hygiene routine. The bad habit of only brushing teeth once a day can negatively affect your smile by allowing harmful bacteria to build up between brushing sessions. Brushing at least twice a day can help bacteria at bay.
Biting Nails, Chewing Ice, Etc.
Biting your nails, chewing ice, chewing on pen caps, etc. are common ways that people deal with stress and anxiety. The problem is that these habits can lead to tooth damage. They can also lead to injuries to the soft tissues like the gums, lips, and tongues. Chewing on hard, non-food items can also put strain on your jaw joints, which can lead to TMJ disorder or bruxism. Instead of chewing on hard items, reach for sugarless gum as a way to keep your mouth occupied.
Good Habits Can Keep Your Smile Healthy
Your daily habits are important to your smile’s health. To schedule a consultation, call E-Care Dentistry, PA in Olathe, KS, today at 913-210-1701. We also proudly serve patients from Overland Park, Lenexa, Leawood, Gardner, and all surrounding communities.