Unless you’re a very strange individual, it’s unlikely that you actually want to destroy your own teeth. Despite this, many of us are actively destroying our teeth every day. Having damaged teeth can affect our self-esteem, our speech and our ability to eat. It can cause a lot of pain too, and it can cost us a lot of money if we want to get dental repairs. Sounds fun? Here are just some of the top ways that you can destroy your teeth…
Drink more soda, less water
Soda is thought to be one of the biggest culprits behind tooth decay. When you drink a sugary soda drink, you’re coating all of your teeth with sugar. Bacteria then breaks down this sugar, producing acids that corrode your teeth in the process.
What about sugar-free soda drinks? Contrary to what some people think, these drinks are also very bad for your teeth as they often still contain high levels of citric and phosphoric acid, which wears away at the enamel.
If you don’t want to destroy your teeth, water is the best liquid you can drink. It helps hydrate the mouth and wash away bacteria. Tap water is particularly good for our teeth as it contains fluoride.
Eat more potato chips
Looking for a food to help destroy your teeth? Potato chips are one of the most damaging foods you can eat. They are likely to get stuck in the teeth and are high in carbs that attract bacteria.
The best snacks to eat if you don’t want to destroy your teeth include crunchy fruit and vegetables like apples, carrots, celery and pears – which can actually clean your teeth as you’re eating them.
Chew sugary gum
Chewing gum that contains sugar will also damage your teeth. Like drinking soda drinks, it coats your entire mouth with sugar, helping bacteria to thrive.
Sugar-free gum on the other hand can help clean your teeth. It can pick up plaque and sugar from your teeth without introducing new sugar to your mouth.
Take up smoking
Long-term smokers tend to have bad teeth. This is because smoking dries out the mouth, causing a build-up of bacteria. Smoking also weakens our immune system, helping gum disease to thrive and resulting in recessed gums. On top of this, tobacco can stain teeth, causing them to look yellow.
Quitting smoking may allow gums to heal and could prevent tooth decay later in life.
Ditch the gumshield
Playing sports like boxing or hockey? If you want to increase the risk of destroying your teeth, don’t wear a gumshield. Injuries sustained in sports may require major cosmetic dentistry to repair. You may also be unable to take part in your sport for a while.
Gumshields cost a few dollars and could potentially save you having to spend thousands of dollars on dental reconstruction. If you don’t want to destroy your teeth and partake in sports that put you at risk of a dental injury, wear a gumshield.
Ignore that toothache
Toothaches are often caused by infections. Ignoring them can help the infection get worse and eventually spread to other teeth.
Most tooth infections can be cleared up with antibiotics if caught early enough. The longer you let infections spread, the more risk there will be of requiring root canal or extraction. See a dentist immediately if you don’t want teeth to get permanently damaged.
Don’t brush your teeth
The most effective way to destroy your teeth is simply to not brush them. Brushing your teeth morning and night gets rid of much of the bacteria and plaque, preventing decay from setting in.
Electric toothbrushes offer the greatest amount of cleaning efficiency. Flossing can also help to get rid of plaque between teeth, and is worth taking up on top of brushing your teeth if you want to avoid dental issues.
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