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Most of us believe we've got the fundamentals sorted when it comes to dental health; brushing, flossing, attending check-ups, and attempting to limit sugar intake.

However, your teeth encounter more dangers than simply having a sweet tooth, and you might be inflicting harm through practices you consider innocent.

Based on Google trend statistics, searches for "why are my teeth so bad" have surged by 420% in just the past month.

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This concern for the welfare of our teeth has led Dr Ali, dentist at Emerdency, to expose the top practices that are harming your teeth without you knowing.

Over-brushing

There genuinely is such a thing as brushing too frequently or with too much force. Scrubbing too vigorously, particularly with a hard-bristled toothbrush, can aggravate gums and erode enamel gradually.

Enamel cannot regenerate once it's lost, leaving your teeth increasingly susceptible to decay and sensitivity.

Over-brushing doesn't guarantee cleaner teeth; the method you employ matters more than the pressure applied, so utilise gentle, circular motions and a toothbrush with softer bristles to carefully eliminate plaque.

Vaping

Whilst many of us understand smoking's effect on our teeth, what about vaping?

Although it might appear as a 'healthier' option, it still inflicts considerable damage. Propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine present in vape liquid can diminish saliva production and trigger dry mouth, whilst research has demonstrated that vaping can alter the oral bacterial environment in the mouth, introducing bacteria associated with infections, gum inflammation, and gum disease.

Vapes, even those without nicotine, can have a detrimental impact on your oral health. They constrict blood vessels in the gums, reducing blood flow and oxygen, making it harder for the gums to fight infection and increasing the risk of gum disease.

Moreover, they contain harmful compounds that can irritate gum tissue and cause inflammation.

Mouth breathing

This is another habit that can harm your oral health. Saliva plays a crucial role in maintaining oral hygiene; it washes away food particles and debris, neutralises acid, and helps to remineralise enamel.

However, mouth breathing, particularly during sleep, can dry out the mouth, reducing saliva's protective effects and increasing your risk of gum issues and decay.

Persistent mouth breathing can also lead to structural changes in the jaw and facial development in children, so it's important to address this habit early.

Stress clenching

Stress-related habits can also take a toll on your teeth. Stress can trigger unconscious behaviours like nail biting, teeth grinding (bruxism), and jaw clenching, which can gradually wear down enamel, and even chip or crack teeth.

Bruxism also puts strain on the jaw joint - the temporomandibular joint - and can lead to headaches and chronic jaw pain.

If you've noticed that you clench your jaw or grind your teeth when under stress, it's advisable to consult your dentist; they may suggest a custom-fitted guard to safeguard your teeth, particularly during the night.

However, don't neglect to tackle the root cause of your stress, from adopting relaxation techniques and enhancing sleep hygiene, to seeking professional help, in order to minimise these unconscious habits that are detrimental to your oral health.

Using teeth as tools

When you're having difficulty opening packaging, or your hands are occupied and you need to hold your keys, the temptation to use your teeth can be strong, but even though it appears harmless at the moment, it can exert tremendous pressure on your enamel, leading to tiny chips and cracks.

These cracks might not be noticeable initially, but they can evolve into much larger dental problems over time.

Five everyday habits that are damaging your teeth without you realising