Tag Archives: bad dental habits

The Energy Drink Is Ruining Your Smile | Palm Harbor Dentist

It’s been a busy few days and all the work’s starting to take its toll on you. You find yourself tired and sleepy. So, you go down the hall, find the vending machine, look for an energy drink of your flavor of choice, toss in a few bucks and voila, you’ve just found a way to get yourself out of that mid-shift funk.

All is well and good, right? Well, not exactly. Fact is, even if most people know that drinking energy drinks regularly is bad for the body, it seems that the energy boost isn’t all that worth it, especially since it comes at the expense of your beautiful smile.

The main root of the problem is a mix of extremely high sugar content and a citric acid pH that’s usually as low as 2.9 all in one drink. Even the extremely high sugar content alone isn’t enough to fully describe just how bad energy drinks are for one’s teeth. It’s the combination of the sugar content and pH levels that makes energy drinks such a danger to the teeth.

Anything acidic, when consumed regularly and in high amounts, can cause damage to tooth enamel, which in time can lead to a myriad of dental problems, including tooth sensitivity, tooth discoloration and pain or discomfort in the teeth. With energy drinks, the teeth are exposed to a huge amount of these acidic substances, which leads to it having a similar detrimental effect on teeth as that of carbonated drinks and juices.

If you’re interested in learning more about the effects of energy drinks on your teeth, contact Dr. Larry Lieberman, DDS at 727-785-8017 to schedule a consultation today. Or visit www.dentist-lieberman.com for additional information.

Dr. Larry Lieberman proudly accepts patients from Safety Harbor, Palm Harbor, Clearwater, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs and surrounding areas.

Your Bad Habits May Be Ruining Your Teeth | Palm Harbor Dentist

Do have a bad dental habit? Believe it or not, most individuals have acquired bad dental habits over the years. What’s worse is that if this habit affects our teeth, it can lead to many issues down the road. The problem is, most of the time we are unaware we even have a habit, much less know we’re doing damage to our teeth. Here is a list of some bad habits that does a lot of damage to your teeth:

Chewing ice. After you’ve finished a drink, you might have the habit of chewing the ice that is leftover. Little did you know, the cold and hardness of the cubes can actually do damage to your teeth by chipping or cracking them.

Using your teeth as a tool. Using your teeth to crack open nuts, or tear through plastic can be incredibly detrimental. Just like chewing ice, using your teeth as a tool may cause damage to your teeth.

Drinking soda. While this isn’t a surprise, we’re adding the usage of sugar free sodas as well. Sodas are acidic and incredibly harmful to teeth.

Nail biting. Perhaps one of the most common bad habits, biting your nails itself is not only damaging to your nail beds, but also to your teeth.

Grinding your teeth. The official term for this habit is bruxism and is a common occurrence at night. But grinding your teeth wears them down. While this is difficult to control, a dentist could suggest using a nightguard to help you get it under control.

If you’re interested in learning more about bad dental habits, contact Dr. Larry Lieberman, DDS at 727-785-8017 to schedule a consultation today. Or visit www.dentist-lieberman.com for additional information.

Dr. Larry Lieberman proudly accepts patients from Safety Harbor, Palm Harbor, Clearwater, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs and surrounding areas.

Cavity Prevention Is in Your Hands | Palm Harbor Dentist

A cavity occurs when plaque produces enough acid to eat through tooth enamel. The effects are usually reversible through extensive dental treatments, but there’s an easier way to deal with cavities – prevention. Just follow these three simple tips:

Watch your diet. People who love sugary treats are more likely to suffer from cavities, as well as other dental problems, compared to those who don’t. Frequently snacking on sweets leaves sugar and starch on your teeth, causing plaque and eventually resulting in cavities. To minimize the risk, cut back on your sugar intake, if not avoid it all. By making the decision to eliminate sugar from your diet, you’ll not only improve your oral health, but your health overall.

Visit your dentist. Plenty of people suffer from cavities because they rarely pay a visit to their dentist. If it’s been a while since your last appointment, consider scheduling a visit ASAP. Your dentist will examine your entire mouth and give you a proper assessment of how good (or bad) your oral health is.

Take care of your teeth. Make it a habit to brush your teeth every day and floss regularly. People tend to forget to floss, but it gets in spots a toothbrush can’t. If you don’t know if you’re brushing or flossing your teeth properly, make it a point to ask your dentist. Gargling mouthwash will also go a long way in eliminating plaque buildup, so don’t forget to ask your dentist for any brands they recommend.

If you’re interested in learning more about cavity prevention, contact Dr. Larry Lieberman, DDS at 727-785-8017 to schedule a consultation today. Or visit www.dentist-lieberman.com for additional information.

Dr. Larry Lieberman proudly accepts patients from Safety Harbor, Palm Harbor, Clearwater, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs and surrounding areas.

What Bad Breath Could Mean | Palm Harbor Dentist

Do you suspect you have bad breath? If so, it might be an indication of other problems and not just a lack of proper oral hygiene. With perpetual bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth may be a warning sign of gum (periodontal) disease. Gum disease is caused by the buildup of plaque on teeth. Bacteria cause the formation of toxins to form, which irritate the gums. If gum disease continues untreated, it can damage the gums and jawbone.

The medical condition dry mouth also can cause bad breath. Saliva is necessary to moisten the mouth, neutralize acids produced by plaque, and wash away dead cells that accumulate on the tongue, gums, and cheeks. If not removed, these cells decompose and can cause bad breath. Dry mouth may be a side effect of various medications, salivary gland problems, or continuous breathing through the mouth.

Many other diseases and illnesses may cause bad breath. Here are some to be aware of: respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia or bronchitis, chronic sinus infections, postnasal drip, diabetes, chronic acid reflux, and liver or kidney problems.

Bad breath can be reduced or prevented if you:

Practice good oral hygiene. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove food debris and plaque. Brush teeth after you eat (keep a toothbrush at work or school to brush after lunch). Don’t forget to brush the tongue, too. Replace your toothbrush every 2 to 3 months or after an illness. Use floss or an interdental cleaner to remove food particles and plaque between teeth once a day. Dentures should be removed at night and cleaned thoroughly before being placed in your mouth the next morning.
See your dentist regularly — at least twice a year. He or she will conduct an oral exam and professional teeth cleaning and will be able to detect and treat periodontal disease, dry mouth, or other problems that may be the cause of bad mouth odor.
Stop smoking and chewing tobacco-based products. Ask your dentist for tips on kicking the habit.
Drink lots of water. This will keep your mouth moist. Chewing gum (preferably sugarless) or sucking on candy (preferably sugarless) also stimulates the production of saliva, which helps wash away food particles and bacteria. Gums and mints containing xylitol are best.
Keep a log of the foods you eat. If you think they may be causing bad breath, bring the log to your dentist to review. Similarly, make a list of the medications you take. Some drugs may play a role in creating mouth odors(Source: WebMD).

In most cases, your dentist can treat the cause of bad breath. If your dentist determines that your mouth is healthy and the odor is not of oral origin, you may be referred to your family doctor or to a specialist to determine the odor source and treatment plan. If the odor is due to gum disease, for example, your dentist can either treat the disease or refer you to a periodontist, a dentist who specializes in treating gum conditions.

To find out more about bad breath contact Dr. Larry Lieberman and make an appointment 727-785-8017 or visit our website at www.dentist-lieberman.com.

Accepting patients from Safety Harbor, Palm Harbor, Clearwater, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs and all surrounding areas.

Bad Dental Habits that Ruin Your Teeth | Palm Harbor Dentist

Do have a bad dental habit? Believe it or not, most individuals have acquired bad dental habits over the years. Furthermore, most of the time we don’t know what we’re doing is actually wrong for our teeth. Here is a list of some bad dental habits that we hope you try and stop after realizing just how much damage they can do to your teeth.

Chewing Ice

After you’ve finished a drink, you might have the habit of chewing the ice that is leftover. Little did you know, the cold and hardness of the cubes can actually do damage to your teeth by chipping or cracking them.

Using Your Teeth as a Tool

Using your teeth to crack open nuts, or tear through plastic can be incredibly detrimental. Just like chewing ice, using your teeth as a tool may cause damage to your teeth.

Drinking Soda

While this isn’t a surprise, we’re adding the usage of sugar free sodas as well. Sodas are acidic and incredibly harmful to teeth.

Nail Biting

Perhaps one of the most common bad habits, biting your nails itself is not only damaging to your nail beds, but also to your teeth.

Grinding Your Teeth

The official term for this habit is “Bruxism” and it is common to occur at night. Grinding your teeth can wear them down. While this is difficult to control, a dentist may give you a night guard to help you get it under control.

For more information about how you can fix your bad dental habits, call Dr. Lieberman in Palm Harbor, FL at 727-785-8017 or visit www.dentist-lieberman.com.

Dr. Lieberman of Palm Harbor, FL also proudly accepts patients from Clearwater, Oldsmar, Tarpon Springs, Tampa, Eastlake, and surrounding areas.