By kkhealthcarecentre 
Our lifestyle affects every part of our lives, from what we eat to how we sleep. Everything we do has an impact, either positive or negative. Nowadays, time feels like a luxury we can’t afford as everyone seems to be constantly on the go. We try to cram as much work as possible into our day, often falling into certain lifestyle habits in the process. We rush through everything, turning meals into fast food and sleep into quick naps.
Let’s talk about these lifestyle habits and their effect on our oral health.
Junk Foods
Junk food typically contains high amounts of unhealthy fats and carbohydrates, packed with calories and lacking nutritional value. Eating too much can lead to issues like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Research shows a link between heart problems and oral health issues. Diabetes can harm a person’s overall health and work capacity and can be difficult to manage once it develops. Obesity can lead to sleep apnea, causing snoring and irregular sleep due to breathing issues.
Carbonated Drinks and Sugary Foods
Carbonated drinks are loaded with sugars and have an acidic pH, which is harmful to our teeth and gums. Similarly, foods high in sugar, like doughnuts, pastries, and candies, feed harmful bacteria in our mouths. Overconsumption can result in cavities, tooth erosion, and gum problems, eventually needing dental treatment.
Smoking and Chewing Tobacco
Smoking or chewing tobacco stains teeth, causes bad breath, and dulls taste sensations. Over time, smoking weakens the body’s healing ability, making infections more likely and increasing the risk of lung diseases. Smoking also poses health risks to people nearby due to secondhand smoke exposure. Tobacco is carcinogenic and especially raises the risk of oral cancer, with potentially deadly outcomes.
Shisha and Vaping
Flavored hookahs or vape pens are often seen as healthier than smoking cigarettes due to the absence of tobacco, but they still present health risks. The vapor contains carbon monoxide, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and carcinogens like heavy metals. Regular use can still threaten oral and overall health.
Alcohol
Excessive alcohol use leads to dry mouth, gum problems, tooth staining, and cardiovascular and liver diseases. Drinkers have a higher risk of oral cancer compared to non-drinkers and are prone to plaque buildup, raising the likelihood of tooth loss. Studies highlight a link between alcohol consumption and issues like depression, memory loss, and reduced healing ability.
Brushing Habits
Irregular brushing can cause numerous oral health problems, such as bad breath, infections, cavities, and loose teeth. After eating, the oral cavity’s pH drops, activating harmful bacteria and making oral health vulnerable. Thus, brushing or rinsing after meals is advised to balance the mouth’s environment. Brushing twice daily and using mouthwash helps reduce plaque buildup, which harbors bacteria. Regular tongue cleaning also helps prevent conditions like candidiasis and bad breath.
Stress and Irregular Sleep Patterns
High stress can cause various health issues, including oral problems like teeth grinding (bruxism) and temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD). Stressful lifestyles often lead to insomnia, increasing stress and continuing a cycle of health issues. Bruxism can wear down teeth, causing sensitivity and pain. TMD can result in serious jaw joint pain, functional difficulties, and continuous discomfort if left untreated.
A healthy lifestyle is the solution to these problems. Incorporating yoga, meditation, or morning walks into our routine, reducing junk food and sugary drinks, following a proper oral hygiene routine, avoiding alcohol and tobacco, and maintaining good sleep patterns can all lead to a healthier, stress-free life. Let’s strive to improve ourselves and our well-being each day.