This means that all tobacco products need to go in order to maintain a pretty set of pearly whites. While it’s not easy to make a major lifestyle change like this, it is possible. Your mouth and teeth will thank you later.
2. Nail Biting
For some, it's tempting to bite nails when nervous or bored. But this habit may have a significant impact on teeth.
“Nail-biting concentrates force in one spot and can result in a fracture of the tooth,” said Mark S. Wolff, DDS, PhD, Professor and Chair at New York University College of Dentistry, in an interview with Humana.
So make an effort to quit biting nails to protect teeth. Try coating nails with a solution that makes nails taste bitter, or look up pictures of bacteria that grow under nails. You’ll lose your appetite for “the bite” in no time.
3. Sweets
As kids, we often heard about how sweets affect our teeth in a negative way. However, as adults, we sometimes need a refresher when it comes to this concept.
Remember the famous commercial that plastered “yuck mouth” across television sets across the nation? Sweets can lead to cavities. And let’s face it -- getting a filling is anything but fun. Yuck!
But why does cutting back on sweets make tooth decay less likely? According to the ADA, carbohydrates serve as fuel for mouth bacteria, so cutting back on sugar and other easily fermentable sources of simple carbohydrates, cavity risk decreases.