February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. The National Children’s Dental Health Month is a…
Bad Habits You Want to Avoid When You Want a Healthy Smile

Everyone wants to have that beautiful smile, even if you may be too shy to show it off all the time. However, if you are doing any of these bad habits, you may be putting that healthy, beautiful smile at risk. The best thing that you can do is to take a good look at your habits, and stop any of the negative ones that could be hurting your teeth. If you aren’t sure if your habit is hurting your mouth, call us here at Cooper Family Dentistry. We will schedule an exam with one of our trusted Cooper Family dentists and help you figure out if your oral health is at risk.
Bad Habits You Need to Lose for Great Oral Health
Smoking is the one that is typically at the top of everyone’s list. It is not good for any part of you, but your mouth tends to take the brunt of the damage. If you need help quitting, come in and see us for more information on what you can do to quit. You can also see your doctor as there are medications out there to help you quit.
Clenching or grinding your teeth, typically referred to as bruxism, is also really damaging to your teeth. Most people do it when they are trying to focus or stressed out, sometimes even continuing to do it in their sleep. This is something that needs to be checked out and monitored by one of our Cooper Family dentists, as it can lead to a lot of tooth damage. It can also be something that we can help you correct by way of a mouthguard.
Chewing on things that are not meant to be chewed on can severely hurt your teeth, but also leave your mouth exposed to potential damage. If you chew on your fingernails, ice, or even objects like pens and pencils, it could be damaging your teeth plus leaving you with sharp objects in your mouth that could damage your tender oral tissues.
For help with bad oral habits, come in to see us at Cooper Family Dentistry. We will help you narrow down the worst habits, and do what we can to help reduce the potential for damage that comes with them. Give us a call today, and we can start helping you as soon as you can come in for your next appointment.


Dr. Jordan Cooper is from Jacksonville, AR. His father is Dr. James Cooper, a Jonesboro, AR native and practicing dentist of 39 years and his mother, Tracy Cooper, is a dental hygienist from Little Rock. Dr. Cooper graduated high school from Central Arkansas Christian, after which he entered at the University of Arkansas as a Chancellor’s Scholar in 1998.
Dr. David Cole is a graduate from the University of Arkansas, receiving his degree in 2016, and is a huge Razorback fan! He then went to dental school at the University of Tennessee where he received his D.D.S. in 2021. He looks forward to getting to know the Central Arkansas area, and serving his community!
Dr. Rasmussen is a Hot Springs native who graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in 2017 (Go Bears). After receiving his D.D.S from The University of Tennessee in 2021, he is looking forward to serving the central Arkansas community and the wonderful people who live here.

Dr. James Cooper was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He studied at the University of New Mexico and graduated from dental school from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. After 2 years of dental experience with the Army, Dr. Cooper moved to Jacksonville in 1973 to practice dentistry.