Sometimes we forget to take care of our teeth. Without realizing it, these habits below can damage your teeth.

Munching on ice cubes

Some people munch on ice cubes after finishing their drinks. You might think this is harmless for your teeth because ice does not contain any sugar. However, this habit can actually cause tooth decay. Other than causing your teeth to fracture, it also can cause damage to the layer beneath the teeth when you crunch a rough and hard-textured ice cube. The damage to the inside layer of the teeth can cause prolonged toothache. If you can’t resist the urge to munch on something, try some sugar-free chewing gum instead.

Directly brushing teeth post-eating

You might think that brushing your teeth right away after a meal is a good idea to reduce the risk of food decay due to food residue left between the teeth. However, directly brushing your teeth after a meal is not recommended, particularly after having a sweet or sour meal. This is because sugary and sour foods such as oranges and lemons create an acidic atmosphere in our mouth.

This condition will weaken the tooth layer called the enamel. Directly brushing your teeth after a meal can scrape out your enamel lines. If this continues, your teeth will become frail and result in sensitive teeth at a later date. To prevent this, you should wait about 30 minutes post-meal to brush your teeth. Or you can rinse your mouth with water to get rid of the acid in your mouth before brushing your teeth.

(Read also: Here's how to reduce and prevent bad breath)

Sweet and fizzy food

As explained before, sweet foods create an acidic atmosphere in our mouth that can damage the enamel lining. Sodas and fizzy beverages are also highly acidic. Even if it is a diet soda with no added sugar, the acid contained might be higher and could potentially damage your teeth.

Opening packaging with teeth

This habit can damage your teeth. Opening a can or bottle with your teeth can damage your teeth and cause trauma to the teeth layer, increasing the risk of toothache and tooth loss. You certainly do not want this to happen. It is better to prepare some scissors or bottle-openers instead of using your teeth.

Snacking too frequently

When we snack, saliva production in our mouth is not as much as when we eat lunch or dinner. How does saliva serve to maintain our teeth’s health? As reported by WebMD, saliva helps to keep our teeth healthy by coating the teeth with minerals and calcium. Other than that, saliva also functions to neutralize the acids in food that may harm the enamel. When eating snacks, the mouth does not produce as much saliva, so our teeth are less protected. Moreover, sweet snacks make it easier for plaque to develop. You might consider selecting sugar-free snacks instead, such as fruits and nuts. (kes)

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