10 Habits That Could Be Damaging Your Teeth

Oral diseases are largely avoidable, yet the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that they impact 3.7 billion people worldwide — about 45% of the global population.1 Untreated tooth decay is the world’s most common health condition, but it’s largely avoidable with proper care. While dental insurance can help reduce your out-of-pocket costs for both routine and complex dental visits, there’s a lot you can do at home to help protect your teeth. In fact, there’s just as much you can avoid to give your teeth some extra protection. Here, we break down ten everyday habits that could be damaging to your teeth.

1. Brushing too hard

It sounds counterintuitive, but you can overdo it while brushing your teeth. Using a hard-bristled toothbrush or pressing too hard while brushing can damage your gums and wear the enamel on your teeth. You can avoid this by using a soft-bristled toothbrush and using gentle, wide, circular strokes to brush your teeth.

Brushing too hard can also cause gum recession over time, which may expose sensitive parts of your teeth and increase your risk of cavities or infection. Consider switching to an electric toothbrush with a pressure sensor if you find it difficult to control the amount of force you use.

2. Biting your nails

Biting your nails can cause damage to your fingers and nail bits, of course, but it can also harm your jaw and teeth and even exacerbate issues with congenital disease.2 Biting your nails for too long can cause jaw soreness and chip your teeth.

3. Clenching or grinding your teeth

You might not even realize you clench your jaw or grind your teeth. It could be a subconscious habit or something you do when you sleep. But it’s important to try to curb the habit because it can damage teeth and cause restricted jaw movement. Relaxation exercises or a nighttime mouth guard can help you stop clenching and grinding.

4. Chewing ice

Both ice and enamel are crystals, and when two crystals are pressed against each other, one of them will break. The ice is typically the part that breaks when you chew ice, but it’s possible your tooth could crack instead.

5. Eating too frequently

Eating frequently throughout the day, rather than just at mealtimes, can increase your risk for cavities. That’s because when you’re eating during prolonged periods without brushing, there’s a greater opportunity for food to turn into plaque and tartar on your teeth rather than getting brushed away.

6. Using tobacco

Unsurprisingly, tobacco products have been linked to oral cancer, tooth decay, and many more oral health issues.3 It’s not just chewing or spitting tobacco that you physically insert in your mouth. Cigarettes, cigars, and hookah can all have negative impacts on your oral health. If you’ve used tobacco for a long time, you may even find difficulty getting dental insurance for seniors due to pre-existing dental issues.

7. Using toothpicks

Flossing every day is a good habit, but using toothpicks is not an effective substitute for floss. Sure, restaurants make them available, but restaurants aren’t dentists. Poking at your teeth can mistakenly lead to gum damage. Instead, use an ADA-approved dental cleaning tool or floss to clean between your teeth.

8. Sucking hard candy or cough drops

Cough drops are typically loaded with sugar, so sucking them for long periods of time, like hard candy, can increase the likelihood of getting a cavity.

9. Sugary snacks and drinks

Likewise, sugary snacks and drinks can lead to tooth decay. It’s better to eat healthy, full-balanced meals that keep you full for longer periods of time so you’re not snacking all day. Water is much better for hydration than sugary drinks.

10. Using your teeth for things other than eating

Misusing your teeth, like biting open a bottle or holding a tool in your teeth, can potentially cause problems. Your teeth aren’t meant for biting metal, and they could crack from being improperly used.

The bottom line

Brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing after every meal, and visiting the dentist at least once a year are great ways to keep your mouth in good health. But there are many everyday habits that could be doing more harm than you realize. Cutting out these habits could go a long way in supporting your overall oral health.

Sources:

1 World Health Organization – Oral health. Updated March 17, 2025. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/oral-health. Accessed June 11, 2025.

2 International Journal of Cardiology – Prevalence, risk factors and potential implications of nail biting in adults with congenital heart disease. Updated January 1, 2025. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167527324012749. Accessed June 11, 2025.

3 U.S. Food and Drug Administration – How Tobacco Use Affects Oral Health. Updated November 19, 2024. https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/health-effects-tobacco-use/how-tobacco-use-affects-oral-health. Accessed June 11, 2025.

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