The common gaming habit that has 'terrifying' consequences for teeth
People might not think their gaming habits will have such an adverse effect on their gnashers
Gaming is perhaps one of Britain’s favourite pastimes. This week alone, fans have went wild for the Call of Duty Black Ops 7 trailer drop and the release date for Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight.
A staggering 41.9 million people play video games in the UK, according to gaming research firm Newzoo. Despite their popularity, concerns over their physical and mental health impacts remain. And according to experts, teeth are also baring the brunt.
A dentist claims gaming may be very harmful to your oral health. Dr Gizem Seymenoglu, a GDC-registered dentist with Longevita Dental, warns that marathon gaming sessions can seriously affect your teeth.
Whether you eat unhealthy snacks, skip brushing, stay indoors too long, have bad posture, or even grind your teeth during tense moments, you could be damaging your teeth in a variety of ways.
Unhealthy snacking
"Playing games with sugary and acidic foods will cause your pH in your mouth to drop," said Dr Gizem said. "When the pH drops, the enamel starts to dissolve and soften. This allows the bacteria in the mouth to cause decay."
The best thing to do? Well, it's not to snack at all, but if you must, do what is called 'sugar balancing'.
"This means drinking milk after eating something sweet like chocolate or unsweetened yoghurt after eating a brownie to neutralise the pH," Dr Gizem went on.
"Creating a buffer is the key here, but if you don’t want to eat anything more, just make sure to drink some water and rinse your mouth.”
The expert recommends healthy snack alternatives, particularly crudités like celery sticks, cucumbers and carrots, emphasising that even fruits aren’t too tooth-friendly because of their sugar content.
High energy drinks
A 2024 global mobile‑gaming survey from Gameloft found that 58 per cent of gamers consume energy drinks while playing.
The dentist said: "Most energy drinks contain caffeine, can act as substitutes for drinking water, and contain a large amount of sugar. This can cause a dry mouth, and you won’t have enough saliva to naturally rinse your mouth.
"Plus, the continuous flushing of your mouth from an acidic drink will cause enamel demineralisation and can lead to cavities as well.
"My advice is to drink plenty of water even when it means getting away from the keyboard and taking more trips to the bathroom!"
Neglecting oral hygiene
"Gamers might stay up all night, playing until 4am, while snacking constantly and forgetting to brush their teeth," Dr Gizem went on.
"It’s definitely not okay to skip brushing your teeth at night because plaque build-up can lead to gum disease and decay.
"One thing to do here is to brush your teeth around the time you normally would, even if you stay up late. It is also important to maintain disciplined oral hygiene by not eating anything afterwards."
Staying indoors for too long
An often overlooked consequence of playing video games indoors for extended periods is vitamin D deficiency.
"Not only can this deficiency lead to bone and joint pain, among other health issues, it can also weaken the teeth, making them vulnerable to breakage," the doc said. "As well, this might make you more susceptible to gum disease."
Grinding teeth
Gamers’ teeth are also susceptible to damage from stress and bruxism (teeth grinding), according to the expert.
"I’ve had patients with bruxism who notice they clench their teeth when concentrating, and since gaming usually demands intense focus, it can trigger the same habit," he explained.
This can cause headaches, jaw pain and pain in the jaw joint, which is why wearing a night guard is a must. If not for that, you can also get masseter Botox to stop grinding your teeth.
Poor gaming posture
Lastly, Dr Gizem urges gamers to invest in an ergonomic chair with better head support to avoid facial pain.
"Even the slightest asymmetry in this muscle can cause all the muscles in the neck and facial anatomy to function incorrectly," he pointed out. "It can cause pain and also put extra pressure on the jaw joint.
"That’s why, as much as possible, make sure to get up from time to time and do stretching exercises."