There’s a saying you’ve probably heard… “A smile is worth more than gold”. If you believe this to be true, then the last thing you would want to do is ruin your smile, right?

Unfortunately, many of us ruin our smile everyday in ways that you probably overlook, or may not be aware that any damage is occurring or accumulating. That is why we want to educate you on 7 ways in which you are ruining your smile.

7 Overlooked Ways You Are Ruining Your Smile

1. Dried Fruits

Fruits are a natural source of energy for us. You can think of fruits as nature’s candy. Fruits contain a lot of sugar, which can be damaging to teeth if you do not keep up with brushing and flossing. However, dried fruits are a step worse. They have a tendency to become stuck all over our teeth, which should be flushed out of your mouth by the time you fall asleep otherwise your mouth’s bacteria will have a feast and cause quick decay.

2. Wine

Wine will ruin your smile because it is highly acidic, especially white wines, and will cover your teeth in acid. Part of wine drinking – for many – involves swirling it around in the mouth to take in all of the flavors. However, this coats every tooth in your mouth with a highly acidic drink that may lead to tooth enamel erosion & discolored teeth.

3. Swimming

Here’s one that you most likely overlook: swimming in a pool filled with chlorine may damage your teeth. The American Journal of Dentistry found that swimming in a pool with high chlorine content for 34 weeks is likely to cause dental erosion and sensitivity. Your best bet is to keep your mouth closed as much as possible.

4. Brushing at the wrong times.

Here’s another one people often overlook: brushing when they shouldn’t. If you’re concerned about your teeth, you may find yourself brushing after large meals or after fizzy, acidic drinks that are staining. However, contrary to what you know it’s best to wait at least an hour before brushing your teeth after consuming a meal. By brushing too soon after consuming acidic fruits & drinks, you run the risk of driving the acid deeper into the teeth.

See: Easy-to-Read Infographic on Oral Home Care Tips

5. Using Teeth as Tools

We all do it. Using our teeth at tools to pry open aluminum cans, bottle caps, or rip something open is very damaging to teeth by causing unneeded stress that weakens teeth and may even cause a tooth to chip or fracture – which is common for people who use their teeth as tools often. Once in awhile under certain circumstances are fine, but try not to make a habit out of it.

6. Firm Toothbrushes

Toothbrushes should always be soft. That is why dentists recommend soft bristled toothbrushes to their patients. Over time, toothbrushes begin to show signs of wear such as hard bristles. However, some people have the belief that hard bristles work better. This simply isn’t the case. Hard bristles irritate the gums and lead to sensitivity.

7. Chewing Ice

Ice is a very strong substance. Chewing it is a great zero calorie snack for some of us, but may come with a cost… the cost of fixing your teeth from an accidental crack, chip, or fracture from biting down too hard. Always make a habit to suck on ice, not chew it.

Follow our advice and you’ll prevent yourself from many accidents that happen all of the time – accidents that could have been easily prevented in the first place. We receive emergency dental patients in our office frequently and the cause is always something that could have been avoidable if more care and caution were present at the time.