Four Bad Habits Worth Breaking

Brushing Teeth Too Hard. Repetitive and overzealous toothscrubbing can cause the gums to recede over time. It is best to use a soft or ultrasoft toothbrush, brushing in a circular motion at the gumline for a timed 2 minutes, twice daily, followed by once daily flossing.

Plastic Tags. Stop using your teeth to remove those annoying tags! They're murder on the teeth. Take a close look at your upper two front teeth - is there a small notch? Instead, find the scissors!

Toothpicks. Who hasn't used them after hitting the local diner? But remember to pick, then flick, not gouge. If you get too aggressive with toothpicks, you can end up injuring the gums or managing to wedge a piece of it between the teeth. If you must, use the ones with the rounded ends.

Crunching Ice. Try munching on a baby carrot or apple chunk instead - they're easier on the teeth. It doesn't take too much crunching sometimes to fracture a back tooth or chip a porcelain crown with ice. A bad fracture can run you well over $1000.00!

Fresh Breath Tips | Periodontal Disease & The | The Most Universal Bad Dental Health Habit