One of the biggest joys in life is the ability to enjoy a wide range of delicious, nutritious foods. Whether you’re proudly epicurious, or you simply like to stick your favorites, there’s no shortage of options out there to please your palate. Unfortunately, however, not all foods are safe for your smile. Here are a few menu options that could increase your risk of chipped teeth, and what you should do in the case of a dental emergency!
The Angry 8: Risky Foods that Could Harm Your Smile
When you think about foods that could cause potential damage to your teeth, you probably aren’t too concerned about things like potatoes, bananas, and cheese. But there are certainly plenty of delicious foods that will increase your risk of dental damage, and that you should either limit your consumption of, or be very careful consuming. These include:
- Hard candy: in addition to increasing your risk of cavities because they’re made of pure sugar, hard candies can easily cause chips and cracks in your tooth enamel.
- Ice cubes: Although they’re made of healthy, delicious water, ice cubes are hard enough to damage your teeth. If you are a cruncher, be sure to stick to the softer, tooth friendly ice.
- Coffee: While drinking a cup of joe won’t chip your teeth, the acidic nature of coffee can wear down your enamel, making your teeth more brittle and susceptible to chips and cracks. Worse yet, if you add sugar, it can leave them vulnerable to cavities, too.
- Citrus fruits: Citrus fruits and their respective products are highly acidic and can wear down tooth enamel leaving teeth at a risk for chips and cracks.
- Dried fruit: Dried fruits can be very sweet and very sticky, meaning they may linger a bit longer on your teeth than regular foods and raw fruits. Thus, if you enjoy these tasty treats, be sure to rinse your mouth well or brush your teeth soon after eating.
- Popcorn: This salty snack is notorious for getting stuck in the teeth thanks to those annoying little shells known as hulls. Additionally, un-popped kernels can take you by surprise, chipping your teeth when you bite down on them unexpectedly.
- Bones: Although some people do enjoy chewing on chicken bones, even if you’re doing it unintentionally, bone fragments in meat can cause tooth damage, so be very careful when cutting your protein or opt for boneless cuts at the supermarket or butcher.
What Happens if I Chip a Tooth?
If you accidentally damage a tooth, contact your emergency dentist as soon as possible. While thankfully not every chip will be a dental emergency, you should still be seen quickly to repair the tooth and ensure it does not put your soft tissue at risk. Depending on the severity of the damage, you may be able to repair it with dental bonding, or you could require a more involved treatment such as a dental crown. Your dentist can make recommendations at your emergency appointment.
Remember, to avoid exposing your smile to undue risk, avoid your consumption of the above foods, or enjoy them with caution. If you incur any dental damage when you do, contact your emergency dentist as soon as possible so that he or she can restore your beautiful, complete smile!
About Our Practice
At Baldwin Family Dental, we understand that dental emergencies like chipped teeth can happen at any time. That’s why we’re proud to offer same-day emergency appointments and two types of sedation to make your time with us calmer and more comfortable. If you’re suffering from a dental emergency, don’t wait to get help. Call us as soon as possible at 850-215-0128, or for non-urgent appointments, visit our website.