Amelia Williamson DeStefano

Oral habits like tongue chewing or mouth breathing might seem minor, but dental hygienists know better. These patterns, and the causes behind them, can quietly cause chronic inflammation, soft tissue damage, or even skeletal changes over time. This guide brings together some of the most common (and commonly overlooked) oral habits hygienists encounter in the operatory, and how you can help patients recognize, understand, and address them. What is tongue chewing?

In October 2021, the US Department of Justice and FTC announced that they were bringing an enforcement action against Xlear, a prominent manufacturer of xylitol oral and nasal hygiene products, for violations of the FTC Act and the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act.

The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t just disrupt dental practices temporarily—it triggered lasting changes across the entire dental industry. From shifting patient spending habits and rising overhead costs to accelerated adoption of artificial intelligence and growing workforce challenges, dentistry today looks very different than it did in early 2020.