7 Habits to Break in 2022 for Better Oral Health

Jan 1 • 3 minute read

Welcome to 2022! Our practice in Turlock Our practice in Turlock wishes you and your family a healthy, prosperous New Year!

One of the ways many people start their new year is by choosing to adopt or break a habit. Establishing a good habit, like regularly going to the gym, can bring many benefits throughout the new year. Similarly, breaking a bad habit, like eating ice cream before bed too often, can also yield many positive rewards.
In this post, we’re going to talk about some habits you might have that you may not realize are negatively affecting your oral health. If you’re one of those who fancies themselves a habit breaker this year, try knocking out one of these habits that’s actually really bad for your oral health.

Grinding Your Teeth

The dental term for grinding your teeth is bruxism, and there are several reasons why people do it. Bruxism can happen unwillingly in your sleep, or it can be a stress reaction you’ve had since childhood. Whether grinding your teeth is a conscious or unconscious habit, talk to your dentist in 2022 about strategies to overcome it. Your tooth enamel and jaw will thank you.

Biting Your Nails

When we examine patients, it’s usually pretty easy to tell who the nail-biters are. Biting your nails is a great way to chip your front teeth and weaken healthy tooth structure. It’s also unhygienic because people tend to accumulate a lot of dirt and debris under their nails. This is another bad habit your dentist may have some advice for how to break.

Too Many Sugary Snacks

Losing weight in the new year is one of the most common resolutions people make, and one of the best ways to make progress is to control your snacking. Too often, folks grab a candy bar or bag of sugary candy from the vending machine instead of packing something healthier to snack on. Cutting sugary snacks out in 2022 will be great for your waistline and your oral health.

Tobacco Use

Smoking and using smokeless tobacco are awful habits for your overall physical health, and they’re extremely damaging to your oral health. If you are a regular tobacco user, we urge you to strongly consider making 2022 the year you finally give tobacco up for good.

Brushing Too Hard

Brushing your teeth twice a day is one of the best things you can do to safeguard the health of your teeth and gums. Brushing too hard, however, can damage your teeth and cause your gums to recede in some cases. The American Dental Association says to think, “massage, not scrub,” when it comes to how hard you should brush.

Not Drinking Enough Water

Prolonged periods of dehydration can cause a wide array of physical health issues, including some oral health issues. In 2022, a great habit to break is not drinking enough water. Proper hydration not only optimizes your body’s functions, it also helps keep food particles and acid off healthy tooth surfaces by regularly rinsing your mouth.

Not Seeing Your Dentist for Regular Cleanings and Check-ups

Avoiding or not scheduling regular dental care is a habit that can lead to costly and time-consuming oral health issues. In the new year, make sure you’re seeing your dentist at least twice a year for regular appointments. This will help prevent oral health issues and keep your smile beautiful and healthy.