Ankeny Dentist Warns: Beware These Destructive Habits

For the most part, good dental health is simple. Hopefully you should know to brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day, refrain from eating too much sugar, and visit your dentist at least once every six months for a comprehensive dental checkup and cleaning. However, certain habits and choices can undo the work of your diligent dental hygiene routine if you’re not careful.  To help you protect your smile, Ankeny family dentist Dr. Erika Peddicord discusses some of these habits and the damage they can cause.

Dental Don’ts

Don’t Crunch

Ice is made of water, and therefore shouldn’t be harmful to your teeth. When frozen, however, the extreme cold temperature and brittle texture of ice cubes can be hazardous to your teeth’s structure. Nevertheless, crunching on ice is a common habit and can sometimes seem natural after polishing off a cold drink. Refrain from crunching on cubes to avoid cracking or fracturing your teeth.

Don’t Use Your Teeth as Tools

Have you ever had to cut a string, uncap a bottle, pull out a watch stem, or any other miscellaneous task and didn’t have the proper tool for the job? Your teeth can seem like a good replacement in a pinch, but using your teeth as tools can place them under a dangerous amount of pressure.

Don’t Neglect Your Dental Hygiene

A busy schedule can make simple tasks seem unimportant, and therefore not worth attention that can be better used elsewhere. A common, but destructive, habit is to sacrifice your hygiene routine for the sake of time. Whether you rush through brushing and flossing your teeth, or simply bypass it entirely, not caring for your teeth is the quickest way to allow dental diseases to form and destroy your smile.

Strong and Healthy Teeth in Ankeny

To learn more about protecting your smile, contact Peddicord Family Dentistry today at (515) 963-3339 to schedule an appointment with your Ankeny dentist. Located in the 50021 area, we proudly welcome patients from Ankeny, Bondurant, Cambridge, Sheldal, Maxwell, Collins, and all surrounding communities.