Amelia Grant

The condition of your teeth and gums depends on various factors. The most significant of them include proper oral hygiene, a healthy diet, and regular dental check-ups. However, many people forget that their bad habits can also have a dramatic impact on their oral cavities. Some bad habits can't directly damage your teeth and gums, while others can contribute to the development of oral issues. In this article, we have gathered five bad habits that can significantly affect your oral health

1. Smoking

Smoking is deemed one of the most aggressive and harmful habits that have numerous negative effects on the condition of your teeth and gums. The most common of them include bad breath, tooth discoloration, gum recession, and tartar accumulation.

 Additionally, smoking can increase your risk of developing gum disease and oral cancer. You should also know that chewing tobacco and recreational drug use can also worsen the condition of your oral cavity. That's why it is better to get rid of such a harmful habit as soon as possible.

2. Drinking alcohol

There are many types of alcoholic beverages and each of them can have a negative impact on your teeth and gums. For example, strong alcohol dries out your mouth and decreases saliva production. The main problem is that saliva helps flush away the bacteria and food particles from your mouth and a lack of saliva can lead to bacteria overgrowth. 

Wine usually contains a lot of acids that soften and remove your tooth enamel. Moreover, if you tend to drink red wine, you should know that it can stain your teeth due to the high concentration of pigments and acids. 

3. Coffee addiction

Coffee addiction is an extremely common problem for many people all over the world. If you drink a lot of coffee, you expose your teeth to acids since coffee is an acidic drink. Additionally, coffee contains ingredients called tannins that can stain your teeth and make your smile look unsightly. 

That’s why many people with coffee addiction often visit a dentist for teeth whitening. Increased coffee consumption can also remove calcium from your body that is necessary for your teeth and bones to function properly. That's why it is recommended to reduce coffee consumption or at least have it with milk to supply your body with calcium.

4. Having a sweet tooth

People who have a sweet tooth are more likely to develop tooth decay, gum recession, enamel wear, and gum disease. This is because sweets are packed with sugar that feeds on the bacteria and creates a perfect environment for them to live and multiply. 

During their vital activity, these bacteria produce acids that remove your tooth enamel and irritate gums. If you want to have a healthy oral cavity it is extremely important to limit sugar intake. Additionally, you can rinse your mouth with water after eating sweets to remove sugar and food particles.

5. Constant snacking

Constant snacking may seem a harmless habit that can affect only your hips and belly. But the truth is that foods that constantly fill your mouth can lead to bacteria overgrowth. 

As mentioned above, an increased number of bacteria can lead to various oral issues. If you can't get rid of this habit, try to snack on crunchy vegetables and fruits since they increase saliva production, massage gums, and help remove the bacteria from your mouth. 

The bottom line

Even though it can be quite difficult to get rid of bad habits, you should understand that maintaining a healthy lifestyle can have lots of positive outcomes. Keeping your teeth and gums healthy can help improve your well-being and self-esteem since you can smile freely and sincerely every time you want.