July is National Anti-Boredom Month. Parents, you might be thinking, how fitting because it’s summertime, and my kids are complaining of boredom. Indeed! Boredom strikes all of us at some point. Did you know that it can even affect your pearly whites?
Sometimes, when people get bored, they bite or chew on non-food objects – pencils, pen caps, straws, etc. This bad habit might also stem from anxiety/stress or serious concentration. I’m sure you’ve seen people in deep thought with the arm of their eyeglasses between their teeth. Regardless of the cause behind the urge to bite, remember that your teeth are not a tool! Their intended purpose is to chew food, speak properly, and enhance physical appearance.
The biggest effects of biting or chewing on such objects are chipped, cracked, and shifted teeth. Also, you might suffer from weakened tooth enamel or TMJ problems. Keep in mind that you could even damage your dental work (braces, crowns, and fillings).
These are some bad biting habits.
Biting bottle caps: This is probably one of the worst ways to use your teeth. Metal fused to glass is some tough competition for your teeth. We totally get it, you’re dying to crack open that beer, but seriously, there’s a better way – bottle opener, anyone?
Crunching ice cubes: But ice is food, right? Technically, but chewing on ice like it’s going out of style can wreck your teeth in more ways than one. Plus, if you suffer from tooth sensitivity, ice can make it worse.
Chewing writing utensils: We’ve all been there, either as school children or adults. You’re bored out of your mind or extremely focused, and you find yourself chewing on a pencil like a beaver or massacring the cap of a pen.
Gnawing on nails: Nail-biting is such a bad habit in general, aside from the negative impact on your teeth. It’s super gross and makes for not so attractive fingers. Excessive nail-biting can wear down tooth enamel. On a more serious note, it can spread germs to your mouth, which can make you ill or cause oral infections.
Misusing toothpicks: When used with caution, a toothpick is a great way to remove the gunk wedged between your teeth; however, chewing on a toothpick or using it aggressively can damage teeth and possibly cause gums to bleed.
Tearing tags: Okay, most of us are probably guilty of doing this. You buy something and want to remove the tag immediately. Like who carries scissors around? Resist the urge to rip that tag with your teeth and try to be patient. Better yet, think outside the box. How about grab your set of keys!
Now that we know biting certain things can destroy our teeth, let’s turn that urge to bite into doing something else. Since we’re focusing on boredom, there are so many ways to beat boredom. Below are some activities to pass the time that don’t involve using your teeth.
- Bake or cook
- Call a friend
- Clean the house
- Read a book
- Take a walk
- Watch a movie
- Volunteer
If biting gets the best of your teeth and you need some help breaking the habit, call us at 954-344-4488, or complete an online appointment request.