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Say no to Potato Chips

Starchy snacks break down and stick to teeth easily, creating a perfect environment for bacterial plaque to form and wreak havoc. Soon after snacking, plan on flossing and brushing to keep the level of plaque down.

Say no to Constant Snacking

Constant snacking throughout the day means food debris and plaque remains on your teeth for a prolonged amount of time. If you need to snack between meals, consider snacking on cleansing-type foods that minimize plaque build-up. A few good choices are apples, carrots, cucumber and celery.

Say no to Binge Eating

Binge eating involves consuming large quantity of sugary foods and drinks, which may lead to dental decay. Binge eating may occur with another eating disorder such as bulimia, in which the food is purged by vomiting. Because vomit is highly acidic, it can erode and damage teeth over time. Medical care and intervention are needed to address these eating disorders. Therapy for changing eating habits, as well as your thoughts and feelings that contribute to your binge eating may include one or more approaches, including: cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy.

Say no to Chewing Ice

Chewing ice is often an unconscious habit and seems harmless. But ice chewing can cause permanent damage to our teeth by creating small cracks in the enamel. These cracks grow larger over time and ultimately cause a tooth to fracture, requiring a visit to the dentist and unnecessary expense to get the cracks fixed. If you love to chew ice, try sipping chilled water instead, or order your drinks without ice to resist your urge.

Say no to Cold Drink

Cold drinks are high in sugar and acid making it a bad combination for your teeth. Frequent soda drinking will essentially bathe your teeth in sugar and can lead to dental decay. Additionally, increased acid exposure works to erode tooth enamel and can lead to teeth sensitivity. Cut your drinking of cold drinks. Sip cold drinks through a straw to avoid contact with the teeth. Minimize the erosion of enamel by rinsing with water after your teeth have been exposed to acidic beverages. Wait at least 30 minutes before brushing with a soft toothbrush after acid exposure to avoid further breakdown and wear of your enamel. And the best is to opt for the healthier thirst-quencher, water.

Say no to Sports Drink

Sports drinks may seem healthier than soda, but this contain lots of sugar and acids, which encourages acid-producing bacteria to proliferate in your mouth, causing tooth decay. To avoid the risk of decay and dental enamel erosion, opt for refreshing, calorie-free and fat-free water instead.

Say no to Fruit Juice

No doubt fruit juice is healthier as it has vitamins and mineral content. But this benefit can be diminished by the presence of high amounts of sugar in fruit juice. We tend to underestimate the amount of sugar in naturally sweet fruit juice. For example, apple juice contains approximately as much sugar as the same volume of soda. Here is the sugar content of some popular fruit juices, based on a 12-ounce serving:

Grape juice: 58 grams

Apple juice: 39 grams

Orange juice: 33 grams

Try diluting fruit juice with water to help reduce sugar content and minimize sugar exposure to your teeth.

Say no to Coffee

A morning cup of coffee helps many of us start the day but caffeine can interfere with saliva flow, cause a dry mouth, and lead to tooth decay. Also, adding sugar to coffee increases the risk of tooth decay even more. To counteract the effect of a dry mouth from caffeine, drink water frequently throughout the day.

Say no to Red Wine

Three things contribute to the staining of your teeth when you drink red wine: Chromogen, the deep color in red wine. Acid content in wine etches teeth and makes them more prone to pick up stain. Tannins in wine help the stain bind to teeth. You can counteract the staining that red wine creates: by eating a protein such as cheese with red wine, rinse with water, or chew gum afterwards to stimulate saliva production and neutralize the mouth pH.

Say no to Sticky Toffee and Sweets

Most people know that sugar can lead to cavities. But some sugary foods are worse than others. Sweets and sticky toffee which sticks to the teeth can get stuck between the crevices of a tooth, and saliva can't wash it away. We advice tooth brushing and flossing after consuming these goodies if you have a sweet tooth or sweet craving.

Say no to Cough Lozenges

Cough lozenges may ease a sore throat, but many of them can make dental problems worse as they contain a lot of sugar. Sucking on them bathes your teeth in that sugar. With a mouth full of sugar, bacteria proliferate. As they do, your chances of tooth decay and gum disease increase, too. Look for sugar-free options instead.

Say no to Tearing Packets with Teeth

Teeth are meant for eating and smiling! Any other use can be unhealthy; your teeth are not knives, and they're not scissors either. Although it may seem convenient in the short term, opening potato chip bags, bobby pins, or even bottle caps with your teeth can cause teeth to chip or fracture. To save your teeth, reach for the proper tools for such tasks.

Say no to Tearing Pencil Chewing

We often chew on pencils or bite objects when we are concentrating. This puts a lot of pressure on teeth, which can cause teeth to chip or fracture over time. If this is a nervous habit of yours, try a healthier substitute. Chewing sugarless gum can prevent tooth damage, and it also stimulates saliva production and helps to cleanse teeth in the process.

Say no to Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding, also known as Bruxism is linked to stress or anxiety. While teeth grinding can happen at any time, many people grind their teeth in their sleep without knowing it. Teeth grinding creates an assortment of health problems in your mouth. These include chipped tooth enamel, cracked teeth, loose teeth, flat, worn-down teeth, joint problems, and tooth loss.

Many people don't realize they are grinding their teeth as this often happens while asleep. Some symptoms of teeth grinding include loose teeth, neck aches, earaches, and dull headaches a jaw that's tired and sore, and a clicking sound when you open your mouth.

Consult a dentist if you suspect you may be grinding your teeth. Your dentist may recommend one of the following treatments:

A Mouth Guard,

A bite adjustment (correcting the way your top and bottom teeth fit together),

Reducing stress, and

Medications to relieve sore muscles.

Say no to Tongue Piercing

Tongue piercings can cause lots of problems to the teeth, and to the mouth overall. Highly discouraged by dentists, because of the potential health hazards of tongue piercings:

They may cause teeth to chip or break, requiring dental work.

They can also rub against the gums and cause permanent gum recession, which can lead to sensitivity and even tooth loss.

The mouth has millions of bacteria. Mouth jewellery can encourage bacterial build-up, creating an overall unhealthy situation.

Repeatedly clicking the jewellery against teeth can damage teeth and fillings, and so can accidentally biting down too hard on the piercing.

Piercings can become infected. This is especially dangerous in the mouth, where a swollen tongue could cut off breathing, causing you to choke.

Some people experience allergic reactions to the metal in piercings.

Piercings can numb your tongue due to nerve damage. This is usually temporary, but it may wind up being permanent.

The piercing can interfere with dental x-rays.

In some cases, tongue piercings can cause teeth to gap by being forced between them repeatedly.

Say no to Smoking

Tobacco use dries out the mouth and increases the amount of plaque build-up around our teeth. Smokers are more likely to lose teeth compared to non-smokers due to gum disease. Additionally, tobacco use is a big risk factor for oral cancer. To increase your chances of success in kicking this unhealthy habit, seek help from your dentist.