Colorado Springs Cosmetic Dentistry Advice: 18 Habits that

Ruin Teeth, PART 2

This two-part article series exposes 18 habits and indulgences that could be ruining the health of your teeth and gums.

Welcome back to our two-part article series on Colorado Springs cosmetic dentistry and the 18 habits and indulgences that could be ruining your teeth. In our previous article post, we covered the following:

1. Chewing on Ice 2. Playing Sports Without a Mouth Guard 3. Baby Bedtime Bottles: Tongue Rings 4. Tongue Rings 5. Teeth Grinding or Bruxism 6. Gummy Candies 7. Sugar-Rich Soda 8. Using Your Teeth as Tools 9. Sports Drinks

Now, let’s continue on with the remaining 9 bad habits...

10. Fruit Juices: It’s tempting to think of fruit juice as good for you and while it is healthier than soda, it’s bursting with sugar and citric acid. In fact, some fruit juices are as high in sugar as Coca Cola! If you’re craving fruit juice, choose one that doesn’t have any added sugar and dilute it with a little water.

11. Potato Chips: You should, as a rule, limit the amount of chips you eat… they’re high in unhealthy

fats and carbohydrates. But chips and other starchy foods are also broken down into acid by the bacteria that live in your mouth. This acid can lead to the erosion of your dental enamel. Chips also have a habit of getting stuck in your teeth, so make sure you brush after this indulgence.

12. Ceaseless Snacking: Every time you eat, acid levels in your mouth soar. Constantly snacking may be one way to keep your metabolism up, but it’s not very good for your teeth and gums. Eat three square meals a day and have an afternoon snack if you get hungry before dinner, but be aware of the damage acid does to your dental enamel.

13. Chewing on Pencils and Pens: It’s an unconscious habit, but it’s terrible for your teeth. Get

yourself a stress ball and keep your hands occupied with that instead.

14. Coffee and Tea: Both of these warm beverages are acidic and contain tannins that can lead to yellowing of the dental enamel over time. Thankfully, these stains are fairly easy to remove using a teeth whitening or bleaching kit. Try to limit the number of cups you have per day.

15. Tobacco-use: Smoking cigarettes, cigars and pipes are terrible for your general and oral health.

Smoking not only discolors your teeth, it’s also the leading cause of periodontitis: gum disease.

16. Red, Red Wine: This delectable evening indulgence is high in acid as well as staining agents, such as chromogens and tannins. While a glass of red wine with dinner has been found by cardiologists to be good for you, try to limit your intake.

17. White Wine: White wine isn’t much better than red! While it doesn’t cause the staining that red

wine does, it’s high in acid and - just like any other alcoholic beverage - causes dry mouth. Saliva is your body’s natural defense against oral bacteria, so this condition increases your risk of tooth decay and gum infection.

18. Eating Disorders: Binge eating and purging is terrible for your teeth in many, many ways. First

of all, the body receives an excess of sugar and foods that are high in starch. Then, the teeth are exposed to a highly acidic solution as the sufferer purges. Seek immediate psychological treatment for these conditions as they are linked directly with tooth decay and tooth loss.

A Final Note... By avoiding these 18 nasty habits or following the advice provided by Colorado Springs cosmetic dentists in this two-part series, you can minimize bacterial activity in your mouth, effectively keeping tooth decay and gum disease at bay!