4 Foods That Can Easily Chip Your Teeth

One of the worst feelings out there is when you take a bite into something on the hard side and feel it make contact with your tooth. Not only can this be painful, but it can also compromise the appearance of your smile and even lead to a dental emergency. It is especially important to be extra careful when you are eating harder foods that are more likely to chip teeth. Continue reading to learn which treats to be extra wary of.

Popcorn

This soft, fluffy snack can’t be all that harmful right? Unfortunately, there have been many broken teeth linked back to eating popcorn. While the perfectly popped piece is delicious, if you accidentally munch down on an unpopped kernel, you could be in for a world of trouble. You may end up with a cracked, chipped, or broken tooth! In addition to being painful, you may need a root canal in order to repair it completely. When eating popcorn, be sure that you’re extra cautious.

Nuts

Having a bowl of mixed nuts isn’t only delicious, but it is highly nutritious as well! However, many of them are very hard in texture, so they can pose extra risk to your smile if you aren’t careful. Don’t be using your teeth to crack open the shells of peanuts, sunflower seeds, or pistachios. If you do, you could notice that the edges of your teeth will begin to wear down and become thin. This means additional chipping and breaking in the future.

Bones

Many of us like to indulge in a protein heavy meal now and again. This can mean anything from chicken wings to pork ribs. Just be mindful when having these cuts of meats because you certainly don’t want to accidentally bite into a hard bone!

Ice

Ice cubes may be a great addition to your favorite beverages, but they certainly aren’t a snack that you should be crunching down on. While it may seem satisfying, it is actually quite dangerous. Just like your enamel, ice is in a crystal form. When they are pressed together, one will break. Most of the time, it is the ice, but you don’t want to continue this habit until your tooth is the one that breaks.

When eating harder foods, it’s important to have a degree of caution. It may even be able to save you from oral health issues in the future!

About the Author

Dr. Reza Jafari earned his dental doctorate from the Boston University School of Dental Medicine where he graduated with Honors. He is committed to continuing education and completes 50 or more credit hours each year to keep his knowledge and skills sharp. For more ways to keep your smile healthy or to schedule an appointment at his office in Queen Creek, visit his website or call (480) 722-1200.