If you need another reason to break pesky bad habits, let healthy teeth be an inspiration. While teeth are naturally strong, some bad habits can wear them down, forming cracks and cavities that could require treatment ranging from simple fillings to dental crowns, implants, and dentures. Don’t risk your dental health for the sake of a mindless habit. Instead, take a few tips from Rachel E. Gold D.M.D. at Total Health Dentistry in Cold Spring, KY. The local dentist is here with four bad habits that need your attention before they become serious problems.

Improve your oral health by nixing these four bad habits:

• Biting Your Nails: Your nails hate it, and so do your teeth. A nail-biting habit puts repeated stress on the tips of your teeth, which can wear them down over time and even contribute to cracking or chipping. 
• Straining Your Teeth: Your teeth should never be used for anything other than chewing. However, many people turn to their teeth to perform tasks such as popping off a bottle cap or ripping off a tag. This is extremely risky behavior that can cause lasting damage to your teeth in the form of chips or even a fracture.  
• Chewing Ice: Are you an ice-chewer? Lots of people enjoy crunching on ice, but it can bring irreparable harm to your teeth. The cold temperatures and brittle crunch are a dangerous combination for tooth health, leading to breakage requiring major treatments like dental crowns or implants.
• Sipping Soda: Many people carry around their favorite soda to sip throughout the day for the sweet taste and a caffeine pick-me-up. It doesn’t matter whether it’s sugar-free or not, the highly acidic liquid can settle in between teeth, encouraging cavities to form.

Rachel E. Gold D.M.D. at Total Health Dentistry is a Cold Spring dentist with a passion for good oral health as part of a patient’s overall wellness. To schedule your appointment, call (859) 441-1230 or visit their website for more information on cracks, cavities, and other dental health issues.