Your Image, Your Mouth
Smoking and Chewing is NOT cool for your mouth or your body. Smoking and chewing stain your pearly whites, cause horrible breath, contribute to gum disease and may lead to mouth or tongue cancer. Don’t just think about how you think you look now; think about how you’ll look later.
Piercing dos and don’ts. Although getting oral piercings might be popular, it’s not always the smartest thing to do and can lead to serious mouth problems. It is not unlikely that getting an oral piercing will lead to chipped or cracked teeth, worn enamel and damage to your lips, cheeks or gums. Also, these piercings can be the source of infections, bleeding and nerve damage. If you are considering putting metal in your mouth, make your decision wisely. Fads may come and go but your teeth are for life.
Gum chewing may be a quick cure for bad breath and is said to increase the production of saliva, which washes your teeth and reduces the acid that erodes enamel, but gum in usually high in sugar and has been known to cause muscle fatigue, jaw joint pain and / or headaches, which are signs of TMJ. If you do chew gum, buy sugarless and be aware of any signs from your body that it’s done enough chewing for the day. Also, chewing gum is not a substitute for brushing your teeth and may have negative affects on previous dental work. If you wear any type of appliances, you should not chew gum at all!
Wearing a mouth guard for sports may seem uncool, but it’s a very smart decision. Mouth guards can protect you from broken teeth and split lips. If you wear any dental appliances, it is essential that you protect your mouth and your appliances at all times.