You use your mouth for many different things. You eat with them, you show emotion with them, and you also do some bad things with them. Dr. Howard Glazer, the president of the Academy of General Dentistry explains that bad habits such as biting non-food objects can cause breaking and chipping of teeth. Over time this could lead to lost teeth or expensive tooth repair. Other habits that can cause problems include excessive digestion of juices and fruits that contain citric acid. An old wife's tale suggests sucking on lemons to prevent colds, or to drink a lot of juice to stay healthy during the flu season. While the benefits of vitamin c is not disputed, the effect of long term exposure of acid on the teeth do cause damage. Over time, the teeth's outer covering, the enamel, dissolves from the acid and appears caulky and can lead to not only excessively worn or chipped teeth , but also sensitive teeth. It makes sense that without the outer protective layer of enamel, teeth are more sensitive to hot, cold , and sweets. The teeth will also be more prone to cavities. Drinking excess soda can also do this since soda contains acid. If you are drinking juices or soda, limit to a few seconds the time you hold the drink in your mouth and make sure to rinse your mouth afterwards. You can also drink through a straw which will help avoid excess exposure of the teeth to the acid in the drink.

When I was a child, my mother gave me a hard tooth brush and told me to brush my teeth thoroughly. I began to brush my teeth as hard as I could thinking that by doing this I would make my teeth extra clean. Over the years, I began to see the gums recede and teeth wear. When I entered dental school, I learned that hard brushing and the use of a hard or even medium toothbrush can harm the teeth and gums and eventually cause damaged gums and exposed nerves. Proper brushing is more gentle almost massage-like involving circular strokes with a soft toothbrush. Start below the gumline keeping the brush at a angle and move the brush in a circular pattern while rolling your wrist. Studies have shown that brushing with a soft toothbrush works as well as a harder toothbrush, but with less damage to the tooth. The down side is that you need to replace soft toothbrushes more often, usually once a month. Do you suffer from pain and soreness in your facial muscles or joints in the mourning? If so , you may be clenching or grinding your teeth while you sleep. Leaning on your jaw while you are watching T.V., excessive gum chewing, or opening your mouth too wide when you eat can also result in undo pain and strain. These habits can lead to problems with your TMJ (temperomandibular joint). You may be surprised to learn that the following habits can also lead to joint, gum, or orthodontic problems: Nail Biting- Localized gum infections can occur when slivers of fingernail get stuck between your teeth or lodged under your gum. Tooth-pick use- Be cautious with toothpicks; they can damage the gum tissue bewtween your teeth by splintering or cause dental problems if you chew on them for long periods of time. Tongue thrusting- Many children develop the habit of thrusting their teeth against their teeth when they swallow or of sucking a thumb or finger. Not only can the teeth be pushed out of alignment, but normal development of the jawbone can be disturbed. Will power on your part and a few suggestion from us may help you exchange harmful habits for good dental exhibits.