Common Habits That Can Hurt Your Teeth

If you’re currently chewing your pen cap or biting your nails—stop! Everyone has bad habits that they need to break, but could yours hurt your teeth? We compiled some of the most common habits people have that could potentially harm their teeth.

• Opening things with your teeth

If you’ve ever had a bag of chips that won’t open, or a price tag that won’t come off, you may have tried to pull with your teeth. By using your teeth as a tool, you risk chipping a tooth or even swallowing something you shouldn’t.

• Smoking and Drinking

While there are obvious health risks that come with smoking and drinking, it's important to note the damage both can cause your teeth, as well. Smoking can not only cause bad breath, but it can stain your teeth, cause gum disease and increase your risk of oral cancer. Alcohol can also cause discoloration and gum disease.

• Eating ice cubes

Think twice before you chomp down on ice! Chewing on ice can slowly chip away at your tooth enamel, or even crack a tooth that has had restoration work. Tip: use crushed ice as opposed to ice cubes so that you’re not as tempted to break up the ice with your teeth!

• Having a sweet tooth

Not all desserts are bad news, but sticky candies like caramels and gummy worms have a knack for getting lodged in the grooves of your teeth. Sugary residue stuck on the teeth can increase chances of decay. If you can’t help but indulge, brush, floss and rinse after your snack.

• Over-whitening your teeth

We all want our smiles to look great in our selfies, but be sure not to take it too far. If teeth are over bleached or whitened, it can lead to enamel loss and tooth sensitivity. Before using whitening products, consult your dentist for a plan best suited for you.

All TruAssure dental plans are offered in association with the DenteMax Plus dental network arrangement, which includes dentists from the following dental networks: United Concordia, DenteMax and GEHA Connection Dental Network.