C.R. Sfeir D.D.S., General Dentistry, located in Lorain, Ohio, has been serving the community for over 20 years thanks to Dr. Sfeir’s decades of skill, experience and care. His dentist office offers a variety of services that work together to keep your teeth in great shape, including X-rays, root canals, tooth implants and other cosmetic dentistry needs.

Help Dr. Sfeir to keep your smile in perfect condition by avoiding these 10 habits that could be ruining your teeth:

• Drinking Lots of Fruit Juice

The added sugar from fruit juice can rot your teeth.

• Chewing on Ice

Chewing ice is one of the biggest causes of cracked or chipped teeth.

• Smoking

Tobacco stains your teeth and puts you at higher risk for periodontal disease because it reduces blood flow to your gums. It also causes bad breath, decreased saliva flow, a higher tooth decay rate, and can cause oral cancer.

• Constant Snacking

Snacking produces less saliva than a whole meal, leaving behind more food bits in your teeth that can lead to tooth decay.

• Clenching Your Jaw

This can wear down your teeth and gums and cause craze lines or fractures. Some people don’t even realize they’re doing it, which can cause huge problems over time.

• Brushing Too Hard

Using bristles that are too firm for your gums or pressing too hard when you brush can also wear down your teeth and gums over time.

• Nail Biting

Biting your nails wears down your teeth and can even chip them.

• Using Your Teeth To Open Bottles/Packages

Using your teeth as tools can cause them to crack or chip as well.

• Taking Cough Drops

Most cough drops are loaded with sugar, which reacts with the sticky plaque that coats your teeth. Then bacteria in the plaque converts the sugar into an acid that eats away at tooth enamel.

• Getting Tongue Piercings

Tongue piercings may be trendy, but biting down on the metal stud can crack a tooth. When metal rubs against the gums, it can cause damage that may lead to tooth loss.

For other great tips and to schedule an appointment, give C.R. Sfeir D.D.S., General Dentistry a call at (440) 960-5200. The office is open Monday through Thursday, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.