When it comes to taking the best care of your teeth, there are things you should do – and things you definitely should not do! Your dentist would highly recommend brushing your pearly whites twice daily and flossing at least once per day, but they definitely wouldn’t encourage biting into one of these hazardous objects. If you’d rather avoid chipping a tooth and needing to make an emergency dental appointment, keep reading!
Pencils or Pens
Usually when you’re holding a pencil or pen, you’re trying to write something profound. Or maybe just something that will help you pass an exam! Either way, the gears in your brain are likely to be turning, which can make it tempting to chew on the closest, most convenient thing in reach: your writing utensil. They’re not the hardest things in the world, but frequent gnawing can wear down your enamel – and your precious number 2 pencil.
Jolly Ranchers – And Other Such Candies
Jolly Ranchers, on the other hand, are hard as nails! Other tough candies like lollipops and Lemon Heads can be just as dangerous. The point is that they’re solid enough to chip a tooth, or make existing damage even worse. If you can’t deprive yourself of these types of treats, try to resist the urge to bite them in half.
Hair Ties
They keep your hair up when you need to get down to business, and they’re your emotional support system when you keep them wrapped around your wrist, just in case. Hair ties are friends, not food, so don’t chew on these elastic tools. You probably don’t want dandruff and hair oil in your mouth, anyway!
Packaging
Teeth are a popular tool of choice for men with short or damaged fingernails – or women with extra-long acrylics. Opening a package or letter with your pearly whites, however, can also wear down your enamel, and may cause jaw problems over time. The tearing motion you make while trying to get to the contents of your mail is definitely one way of developing a TMJ disorder.
Aglets
What in the world is an aglet? You know that little plastic tube at the end of your shoelaces or some sweatshirt hood-strings? That’s an aglet. Since they keep your laces and strings from unraveling, you probably don’t want to risk breaking them. Plus, think about where that aglet has been. It’s likely not your most hygienic option!
Conclusion
Don’t restrict yourself to avoiding the dental hazards listed in this post. Plenty of objects simply aren’t meant to be bitten into. Your teeth are primarily for chewing on food, so gnawing on anything else can have some emergency-worthy consequences. Be mindful of what you put in your mouth and keep smiling!
About the Practice
Dr. Navneet Kaur Randhawa, Dr. Sonam Rambhia, and Dr. Nikunj Raiyani are proud to come together as a team at Hanford Family Dental Center. Their unique skills and experiences enable us to offer a variety of quality dental services to patients of all ages. If you chip, crack, or break a tooth, or experience a different kind of dental emergency, we’ll do our best to see you on a same-day basis so we can promptly restore your oral health and function! To contact our office, call 559-530-8080.