Sometimes, brushing and flossing isn’t enough to keep your smile healthy. You may have a few bad habits that could damage your teeth.

1. Pen or pencil chewing. Biting your writing utensil is a common habit you see at the office when people are thinking, but it can cause us to chip our teeth. So can using your teeth to open bottles (don't do it) or chewing ice (try sucking on it instead).
2. Smoking or using tobacco. Tobacco can reduce blood flow to your gums, creating gum disease, and can lead to oral cancer. Chewing tobacco is better for your lungs, but much, much worse for your mouth.
3. Nail biting. Aside from creating unsightly nails, nail biting can chip your teeth, especially if your nails are acrylic. Plus, bacteria accumulates under your fingernails and that bacteria transfers to your mouth when you nip at your nails. Nail biting can also cause problems with your jaw. If you find it hard to stop, sour-tasting polish is a common over-the-counter trick to help break the biting habit.
4. Teeth grinding. Grinding your teeth when you sleep is hard habit to break…after all, it’s hard to stop something you’re doing while asleep. Your dentist can provide you with a mouth guard to wear at night which will protect your teeth from your bedtime grinding.
5. Eating gummy candy. Sticky, gummy candy is one of the most damaging types of sweet treats because bits of sugar and acid can stick on your teeth for hours. If you love gummy candy, then eat it with something else so you produce more saliva to wash away those candy bits. And don’t forget to brush and floss after giving into your sweet tooth.
6. Sipping on soda. Soda contains acid that can wear away at your teeth and has a very high sugar content. But beware: just because there’s no sugar, diet soda is not better for your smile. The acid and dark-color can erode and stain your teeth.
7. Brushing too hard. You need to brush twice a day, but if you are a heavy-handed brusher or use a very hard toothbrush, you can damage your teeth and gums. Try using a soft bristled toothbrush or a sonic toothbrush which controls the speed and pressure better.

Do you have any of these bad habits? Whether you tackle them all at once, or work on improving your habits little by little, you’ll be making a big difference in your oral health.  And, by doing so, you’ll reduce damage to your teeth and keep those costly dental services at bay.

Pro tip: See your dentist twice a year and save on dental services with a dental plan that pays for itself.