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Your oral health comprises different components and can be affected by things you wouldn’t usually consider harmful. The food you eat, your mental health, and lifestyle habits directly impact the health of your teeth, even exposure to chemicals and playing sports can lead to complications. Read on to discover 5 surprising factors affecting your oral health.

Eating Specific Foods

Several foods can have a negative effect on your oral health. While you may think that food containing added sugars is the leading cause of dental concerns, some fruits and nuts can pose a risk. For example, excess consumption of citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges might wear down your tooth enamel and dentin.

Snacking on dried fruits is excellent for keeping up with your nutritional intake. However, these fruits have a film that can stick to your teeth, creating ideal conditions for bacteria to thrive. On the other hand, raw nuts may fracture your teeth if you bite on them too hard.

Excessive Contact with Chemicals

Did you know that some chemicals can harm tooth enamel, provoke tooth sensitivity, and stain teeth? According to research, antibiotics, BPA, and chlorine used to clean swimming pools are everyday chemicals that can increase the risk of developing oral health complications. Moreover, prescribed medications contain chemical compounds that lead to excessive dry mouth.

Even though exposure to most of these chemicals cannot be avoided at times, it’s best to take precautions. For instance, you might consider moderating your exposure. You can also ensure you read the labels of your household goods and try using alternative products without these chemicals.

Alcohol Consumption

Moderate alcohol consumption isn’t considered a significant health hazard. However, heavy drinking has been associated with gum disease, mouth sores, tooth decay and a higher risk for oral cancer. Research suggests that people who consume higher amounts of alcohol have more plaque buildup and are three times more likely to experience tooth decay and permanent loss.

Other oral effects of alcohol consumption include:

• Dryness: Beverages containing higher amounts of alcohol, such as spirits, can dry the mouth and create an environment for bacteria to spread on the surface of your teeth.
• Staining: Some alcoholic drinks like wine can stain and discolour your teeth.
• Other damage: Chewing ice mixed with alcohol can increase the likelihood of breaking your teeth.
• Enamel erosion: Adding citrus fruits, like a slice of lemon, can lead to tooth sensitivity and erode the enamel, exposing the nerve endings.

Chronic Stress

Besides feeling down and physically weak, the impact of stress on your immune system can also lead to several complications that affect your oral health. In most cases, when you are feeling overwhelmed, you are likely to grind or clench your teeth involuntarily. This usually happens while you’re sleeping.

The induced and continuous tightening of your jaw muscles can lead to discomfort and severe pain, known as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). You might find it difficult to talk, chew or brush your teeth regularly, which can result in inflammation and infection. Moreover, if you’re on medication to manage your stress levels, it can cause dry mouth.

Playing Sports

Most sports pose a danger to the health of your teeth since there’s a higher chance of objects or people being in contact with you. Sports injuries are common and can result in traumatic dental injuries such as permanent tooth loss. Other risks include soft tissue injuries in your gums, broken teeth and jawline misalignment.

If you are the victim of a sporting injury that damages your teeth, you should treat it as an emergency and contact your dentist immediately. You should consider taking proactive measures like wearing a mouthguard to protect against traumatic dental injuries. Most importantly, maintain good oral hygiene habits while using your mouthguard to prevent infections from bacterial growth.

Your teeth can be sensitive, and different factors play a surprising role in ensuring their health. Any sudden changes to the health of your gums and teeth can lead to physical health concerns affecting your quality of life. If you are worried about your constant exposure to specific chemicals, play contact sports frequently, or consume alcohol regularly, you should use your Affinity Dental plan to schedule a mouth examination for a full teeth inspection and assessment of any tissue damage.