You brush and floss daily, visit your dentist twice per year, and stay on top of your dental treatments. However, you might not be completely satisfied with your dental health. Even if you’ve mastered the basics of dental care, there still could be some habits that are holding back your smile. Say goodbye to the following habits to take your dental wellness to the next level.

4 Habits to Eliminate for Your Best Smile Ever

1. Grinding Your Teeth

Teeth grinding and jaw clenching are common habits, and you might not even realize that you’re doing it. This habit is often caused by stress, and it can wear down your enamel over time. To try to break this habit, do exercises like meditation to reduce stress during the day. If you are unconsciously grinding at night, talk to your dentist about wearing a mouth guard.

2. Using Your Teeth as Tools

Opening a bottle cap with your teeth might be your favorite party trick, but this is a risky habit. Even smaller actions like opening food packaging with your teeth can lead to chips and cracks, landing you in an emergency dentist appointment. Keep bottle openers and scissors handy in your home to easily open packaging while protecting your teeth.

3. Sipping on Soda

A cold can of soda may be the refresher and caffeine boost that you crave during the day. However, these sugary drinks are coating your teeth with sugar, which can lead to cavities. Soda is also quite acidic so it can wear down your enamel if you drink it too often. If you do enjoy a soda on occasion, rinse your mouth and brush your teeth after. 

4. Chewing on Ice

Many people munch on ice after they’ve finished their drink. However, this habit can harm your teeth in the long run. While you will likely not immediately crack a tooth from ice, you create small cracks in the teeth as you crunch each cube. Over time, these cracks can leave you susceptible to tooth breaks and larger cracks. 

Ready to get your dental health on track? James Julien, DDS, helps families in Kanai, AK, look and feel their best with his premier dental services. Whether you are in need of a routine cleaning, dental surgery, or new dental crowns, Dr. Julien will ensure your comfort in their relaxing office environment. To learn more about this dentist office’s general, cosmetic, and restorative dental services, visit them online. You can also call (907) 283-4857 to make an appointment today.