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6 Harmful Habits That Affect Your Teeth

Changing the Perception About Root Canals

Spilled popcorn and candy
  • Elite Endodontics
  • October 1, 2020

Nearly everyone has at least one habit that they wish they could break. Did you know that some of them can affect your oral health? Here are a few common habits and tips for how to break them.

Nail Biting

Why it’s harmful: Your dental health may suffer from nail biting by possibly chipping your teeth or impacting your tooth. You place pressure on your jaw when you leave it in a protruding position for long periods of time. You could also tear or damage your gums.

The solution: Some patients find it helpful to wear a mouth guard to deter form nail biting. Other ways to reduce nail biting include using therapy techniques, reducing stress, or applying bitter tasting nail polish.

Brushing Too Hard

Why it’s harmful: It’s best to brush your teeth for two minutes at least twice a day. Make sure to not brush too hard since this can lead to damage to the teeth and gum irritation. When you brush too hard, you risk gum recession and not cleaning your teeth efficiently.

The solution: Instead of brushing hard, use a soft toothbrush and apply a proper pressure. Let your toothbrush bristles touch your gums at a 45 degree angle and reduce the force of your brush on your gums.

Grinding and Clenching

Why it’s harmful: This can chip or crack your teeth as well as cause muscle tenderness and joint pain. You may also experience a painful sensation when chewing or inability to open your mouth wide.

The solution: Stay aware of your teeth grinding and clenching and use relaxation exercises to keep from doing both. A mouthguard can also help protect you from grinding your teeth while you sleep. This will reduce any tooth pain, or muscle soreness and give you a better sleep. Our dentist can provide recommendations for how to combat teeth grinding.

Chewing Ice Cubes

Why it’s harmful: Tooth enamel and ice are both crystals. When you push two crystals against each other, it can cause one to break. This may be the ice and sometimes it may be the tooth.

The solution: Try drinking beverages without ice or use a straw instead.

Constant Snacking

Why it’s harmful: If your diet consists heavily of sugary foods and drinks, you are at a higher risk of forming cavities. The cavity-causing bacteria feast on leftover food and produces acid that attacks the outer shell of your teeth.

The solution: To reduce snacking, eat balanced meals so that you can feel fuller, longer. You should avoid sugary foods when snacking. If you are tempted to eat the occasional sugary snack, just make sure to drink a glass of water after to wash away the leftover food.

Using Your Teeth as a Tool

Why it’s harmful: Using your teeth as a tool to hold items, open bottles, cut through thread, or other functions can put you at risk for chipped or broken teeth or jaw injuries.

The solution: Your teeth should never be used to hold or open items or to cut things when you don’t have scissors at your disposal. Look for your scissors or find someone that can give you a hand. Your mouth will thank you for it and you’ll be saving yourself from potentially costly and painful dental complications.

Contact our office, Elite Endodontics, to schedule your next dental appointment.

Elite Endodontics
Phone: (850) 696-0820
Url: EndodontistPensacola.com
6111 N Davis Highway
Pensacola, FL 32504

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During your visit, our Pensacola endodontists, Dr. Todd and Dr. Beam, will answer any and all questions about your oral health. We will provide a detailed financial consultation to ensure your treatments are timed effectively and affordably.

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patient testimonials

Experience 5-Star Care

Our goal is to provide our patients with the highest level of dental care available today. Read what our patients are saying about their 5-star experience with us! We can’t wait to do the same for you!

Brindle B.
All the staff are amazing. They were super sweet. Dr Beam and the staff took great care of me. If I ever need another root canal, I would definitely come back (but let’s hope I don’t).
Evan D.
Guys, listen..if you have ANY hesitation about dental visits, you have to go to Elite Endodontics.

As soon as I walked in, I noticed how clean, calm, and beautiful the office was that it almost feels like a spa. I was greeted with a smile, and hardly waited before Nicole called me back. Nicole is a total gem! She was kind, gentle, and made sure I was comfortable the entire time.

Dr. Todd came back with the best energy… I swear he is a part time comedian. He is so funny and super down to earth, which helped take away any anxiety I was feeling. He is extremely knowledgeable and thorough, and took his time looking over my X-ray and explaining every step in simple terms so I was sure to understand what was happening.

What stood out the most to me was how you could tell the whole team enjoyed working together, it honestly felt more like hanging out with friends than sitting in a dental chair. The procedure was virtually pain-free, and on top of that I was finished in about an hour. I never thought a root canal could be so enjoyable lol! I know that sounds crazy, but it’s true!

I received phenomenal quality care, and I couldn't be more grateful for how smooth and positive the whole experience was.
Lucinda W.
The timing was perfect, little or no pain at all I needed a tynelol, very professional staff they even call to check on me that night after the surgery
Maria L.
Great Clinic! Very modern! Excellent equipment. Very nice and helpfull staff. And most of all the doctor who took care of me was great. He explained everything with details, answered all my questions, made sure all the time if i was feeling ok. I really do recommend that clinic.
C B.
What a wonderful endodontics facility! I guess I'm finally at the age where all of my doctors are younger than me. Dr. Jared Beam is a great example of the best and brightest of the newer generation. He was friendly and reassuring, knowledgeable and highly skilled. He's also got incredibly steady and gentle hands. He spent over an hour working on me, and was careful and conscientious of my comfort the whole time.

I didn't even realize how much pain I'd been in with the infected root until he drained it all out. It felt SO GOOD. I was so scared of the root canal, as I'd never had one before, but this felt really, really good. There was some minor soreness after, but nothing like I'd expected. You get sent home with a bag with water, Motrin, and follow up care info and the office calls you the next day to check on you. The support staff and office staff were wonderful. The facility was clean, pleasant, and up to date with all the new gear and xrays for treating and imaging your teeth. They even had a 3-D, panoramic type scanner to see the roots more clearly.
I would happily go back here again if I ever need another root canal (but I really hope I do not!), and I would unreservedly recommend this office to friends, family, and strangers on a train.

After my root canal was over, I told Dr. Beam about the Turkana Boy - a ~9 year old human erectus child who died from a dental abscess 1.5 million years ago - the first known dental fatality in the human record. It just goes to show how vitally important his work (and the work of other oral care specialists) still is and always will be (because even after 1.5 million years of steady advancements and evolution, people still get infected teeth). Definitely, they are all on the side of the angels. They sure saved me!

*As a footnote, the only thing I wish - which has nothing to do with this office, but only with state law and how much things have changed since the 80's-2000's - was that they could've offered nitrous gas to help with the anxiety and discomfort and fear. My neck and face and head hurt from the tension more than the tooth that was drilled. As a kid, my regular dentist had the nitrous gas on tap for anyone with anxiety issues. It's non-addicting, especially in the situation of a single use for dental care, safe, effective - and wears off so fast, you could drive yourself home afterwards. Why the govt/FDA/DEA made it impossible to get anymore (without a special license and a huge extra expense) is beyond me. I'm sure most dentists, especially endodontists, wish they still had that available in their toolbox for certain types of treatment. In most other countries, they give it to pregnant women during labor to make things easier, so it's clearly safe. I hope that one day, a huge number of medical & dental professionals will lobby to have it available again in regular & surgical offices, for use as needed (like for dental work and other things, such as my adult daughter, who passes out at the sight of a needle). But that's a cause for another day. :)

FYI, Elite Endodontics does offer sedation pills if desired, but you've got to pay an extra fee for an observer to monitor your breathing during the procedure and I, personally, found it cost prohibitive. But if you truly can't get through it any other way, or you don't mind the extra $ for a bit of extra comfort, then at least you know it's there for you if you need it. I am an herbalist, so I crafted my own herbal anxiety remedy and that was sufficient for me, but I still would've gotten the pills if it had been a bit less $. Regardless, I do appreciate that they offer that at all - most other places do not.
Ashley C.
Incredible experience! If you have dental anxiety or autoimmune/MCAS/long covid, listen up. When a dentist told me I’d need a root canal, I was literally shaking and felt like I may pass out. I wish I was exaggerating! 😄I’ve had dental anxiety as long as I can remember.

I entered Elite Endodontics not knowing what to expect, but Dr. Todd and his staff immediately put me at ease. They took my concerns seriously but also reassured me that nearly everyone has some degree of anxiety about the experience, and that they’d be there to talk me through every step. Well, they definitely delivered!

I want to note that Dr. Todd didn’t miss a beat when I explained I’ve dealt with long covid/MCAS and immediately offered me an alternative to a medication they often use in recovery. He has a protocol he uses for autoimmune patients. If you deal with one of these conditions, you know how overwhelming it can be to find a doctor who takes you seriously.

The environment here is warm and calming, and Aleah is honestly AMAZING. I am so lucky to have had her assisting Dr. Todd for my procedure. She really put me at ease and cheered me on with her sunshine-y disposition and encouragement, and even called to check on me the following day.

Dr. Todd himself is a unicorn of doctors. He has a very calming demeanor that makes you feel comfortable and reassured, while also taking great care in the detail of his work. When the machine gave a suspicious reading about the length of my tooth root, he immediately took other imaging to verify the correct size before proceeding. As a perfectionist myself, this is a characteristic I want in someone doing a root canal. 😂

I also noticed his intentionality in using phrases that foster a sense of calm. When possible, he describes the steps of the procedure in a way that is both accurate and neutral rather than the fear-mongering terminology we’re all used to when it comes to dental procedures. They even have cute animal videos playing on the television! These details make a huge difference for patients and show Dr. Todd and his office truly cares.

As for what to expect, believe it or not, my root canal was pain-free, and I was done in an hour! They’ll make sure your tooth is fully numb before beginning, and the most I felt was a tiny poke from the numbing shot. The next day, I had a moderate amount of soreness/sensitivity, and now that I’m on day two, I hardly feel anything.

If you’re considering traveling to this office, I would recommend it without hesitation. I’m so grateful my dentist recommended them!
Michelle D.
I can say nothing but the most positive things about Elite Endodontics. Dr. Todd and Leah were the best! I needed a root canal, my face was swollen, and I was in a lot of pain. They worked me in the same day, and as far as I'm concerned, they saved my life. The entire office staff was polite and caring. Dr. Todd and Leah lightened the mood and took away all of my fears. Within a couple of days, I was back to my previous self. I cannot thank them enough and highly recommend them to everyone I know. Thank you, Elite, for all that you did for me!
Irena O.
I was referred to this office from my dentist and I’m really pleased with the work they did for me. Everything went smoothly and they followed up with me the next day.
Toad F.
Had to get a root canal and Elite Endodontics was recommended by my dentist. Absolutely painless and the staff were professional and very friendly. I would absolutely recommend them!
Danil P.
Dr. Todd at Elite Endodontics is Professional with a friendly touch. I have had bad experiences with Dentists before. Dr. Todd performed a root canal and explained the procedure as he progressed. The relatively painless procedure was performed in less than an hour with care for my comfort. The office is modern and staff friendly. I recommend Dr Todd at Elite Endodontics for Excellent dental care.
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