Brushing and flossing your teeth are important habits to avoid cavities and bad breath, but to protect yourself from a dental emergency, there are a few other things you need to beware of. Below we have listed some items your dentist never puts in their mouth along with the reason why. Keep reading to find out what they are – and you’ll be one step ahead on keeping your teeth healthy and intact this fall and all year long!
#1: Chomping on Ice
If you have a habit of eating the ice left over from your lunchtime beverage, consider popping a piece of (sugar-free) gum in your mouth instead. Your dentist never bites down on anything excessively hard, like ice, because this is a sure-fire way to end up with a dental emergency – like a broken or cracked tooth.
#2: Biting Your Nails
For your dentist, seeing someone bite their nails is worse than hearing them scratch on a chalkboard – that’s because they know how much damage this habit can cause to their teeth! If you have a penchant for chomping on your fingernails, try breaking the habit by popping a rubber band around your wrist every time you want to bite, or by applying a bad-tasting (but safe) polish to the nails.
#3: Using Teeth as Tools
When they are outside of the office, any good dentist will always have scissors or a tool bag ready. That’s because they know it’s never worth it to use their teeth to open packages or otherwise as tools. Doing so greatly increases the risk of an injured tooth or lacerated gum tissue. Avoid the action altogether!
#4: Hard Candies, Nut Brittles, Etc.
As tasty as they can be, some sweet treats are just a recipe for a dental emergency. Peanut brittle, hard toffees, and more are prime offenders of broken and chipped teeth. Even if they don’t cause an injury, the sugar particles are more likely to get stuck between teeth or on the uneven surface of the molars – greatly increasing your risk of cavities. Your dentist recommends softer treats, or ones that you don’t have to bite directly down into.
There you have it! Four things to stop doing to keep you safer from dental emergencies. But remember that there is no way to completely eliminate the risk that an urgent situation will happen to you or someone you love. If you do experience one, get in touch with your emergency dentist right away. They can help you get out of pain and on with your life ASAP!
Meet the Dentist
Dr. El-Ghadi of Sound Dentistry offers top-notch dental care for families in and around New Bedford. In fact, he is the only board-certified prosthodontist practicing in the area. He provides a range of services, including helping to treat and prevent dental emergencies, for patients of all ages. To learn more about Dr. El-Ghadi or to schedule an appointment, contact Sound Dentistry at (508) 996-6777.