7 things that can ruin your teeth

Good teeth mean good health. Recently, the Popular Health Network published a new article, which listed the "7 Things That Are Most Harmful to Teeth" summarized by many American dental experts, to help you take the first step in protecting your health.

1. Too much whitening

Dr. Richard Price, an advisor to the American Dental Association, said over-bleaching can weaken tooth enamel, making it easier for acids to corrode teeth and cause holes in the enamel. Once the tooth enamel is damaged, it cannot be restored, which can easily lead to exposure of the dental nerve and cause tooth sensitivity.

2. Eating too much sour food

Dr. Martha Giles, a dental expert at Duke Children's Hospital in the United States, said that in order to protect your teeth, you should avoid drinking large amounts of soda, orange juice, red wine, or eating acidic foods such as lemons. The reason is that eating too much acidic food can also damage tooth enamel.

3. Alternate between hot and cold

Dr. Price says that foods that are too hot can cause tooth enamel to swell. If you drink cold drinks in large gulps at this time, your tooth enamel will suddenly shrink due to the cold, creating hair-like cracks, which will make you prone to tooth decay over time.

4. Saw-like brushing

Dr. Nuntia Kakanantadilok, a dental specialist at Mondefield Medical Center in New York, said that brushing too hard can aggravate the wear of the enamel on the surface of the teeth, causing tooth sensitivity and exposed pulp. It is recommended to choose a soft-bristled toothbrush and use circular motions to avoid brushing vigorously. In addition, if the bristles of a toothbrush bend after 2 to 3 months of use, it is a clear sign that you are brushing too hard.

5. You didn’t choose the right type of toothpaste

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration uses "relative tooth wear" (RDA, also known as toothpaste abrasion value) to grade toothpaste. The RDA of ordinary toothpaste is 70, that of whitening toothpaste is 100, and those above 150 are considered high abrasion grade. It is not recommended to use toothpaste with an RDA of over 200. Dr. Giles recommends that it is best to choose fluoride toothpaste. Although fluoride cannot regenerate tooth enamel, it can make teeth stronger.

6. Teeth as tools

Many people are accustomed to using their teeth to open beer bottles or tear open packaging bags. Dr. Warren Brill, president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, said that teeth are used to chew food, not tools such as bottle openers, and doing so frequently can easily lead to tooth breakage and displacement.

7. Toothbrushing for a short time

Many people only brush their teeth once a day, and each time they brush their teeth they do it in a perfunctory manner. Dr. Giles said that brushing your teeth for too short a time, too infrequently, or carelessly will greatly increase the risk of dental plaque and caries. It is recommended to brush your teeth at least twice a day, and each time should last at least 2 minutes. Also, floss between your teeth at least once a day.