By: Bolatito Mayungbo
It
was the party of the season.
The
hall was filled with folks with high-flying gele's and dog-eared caps on one
side, while the trad on slippers/sneakers and gowns with 1-yard material group
occupied the other.
Food
and drinks were in excess, and trust people to use this opportunity wisely, or
not. It was a sight to watch.
Plates
were heaped with piping hot food that was being shoved into mouths as fast as
possible, all in a bid to get more portions afterwards.
I
stared in horror as a woman struggled to crunch the bone of a long-dead animal,
as a man opened a bottle of soda with his teeth and as a lady decided she
wanted to munch on the ice provided rather than use it to cool her drink.
"You're
all hurting your teeth!", I wanted to scream...but one doesn't do that in
such a place.
Harmful
Oral Practices
In
addition to the above, these are some of the practices that harm our teeth over
time:
1.
Using Teeth as Tools
Using
teeth to tear a cloth tag or thread, open a bottle or hold nails can be
traumatising for your teeth, and can cause the edge of a weakened tooth to chip
off
2.
Grinding Your Teeth
In
some people, this is caused by stress and anxiety. This habit can wear your
teeth down, so it is important to first be aware that you do it.
3.
Using a Hard-Bristled Toothbrush
You
might think the firmer the toothbrush, the better, right? This isn’t so,
especially for older adults. With age, the gums push back and the roots of the
teeth become exposed, often increasing sensitivity. A brush with too-firm
bristles may irritate the gums and lead to sensitive teeth.
4.
Nail Biting
Biting
your nails may seem like an innocent habit but people who chew their
nails cause a gum condition to develop called gingival clefts. This condition
causes the gum tissue to split painfully, revealing the roots of your teeth. It’s
not just biting your nails that can cause this problem. Biting on any non-food
object such as paper clips, toothpicks, or pens can also cause this condition to occur.
5.
Drinking sugary beverages
Research
suggests that sipping sugary soda throughout the day is a bad habit. Constant exposure to sweet and acidic beverages can foster tooth decay.
What
you can do instead
1.
Use actual tools like scissors, bottle openers, etc
2.
First try to cut down on stress and caffeine intake, then try relaxing
exercises. If it is not caused by stress, or it's hard to stop, you should see
your dentist.
3.
You should use a medium toothbrush. Not hard, not soft.
4.
This might be a bit hard to stop, but you can try some of these. Painting your
nails with bitter-tasting nail polish, keep your nails trimmed short, and try
replacing the habit with something else that would keep your hands busy.
5.
Sip soda through a straw to minimize soda exposure to your teeth. Be sure the
straw is positioned toward the back of the mouth, not resting against your
teeth.
References
-Do
You Have These 5 Bad Dental Habits? - WebMD
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/do-you-have-these-5-bad-dental-habits
-5
Habits that harm your Oral Health - ImpressionsDentalColorado.com
https://www.impressionscolorado.com/5-habits-that-harm-your-oral-health/