Which Foods Can Easily Chip My Teeth?

Your teeth go through a lot of use over the years, and sometimes they look a little worse for the wear. Many things like accidents or improper use can cause chips to form in teeth, but did you know that many popular foods can be quite harsh on your enamel if you aren’t careful? Nothing ruins a delicious snack like finding a chip in your tooth afterward. Here are a few foods that can cause dental injuries along with a few tips for enjoying them safely.

Don’t Let Popcorn Give You Reason to Mourn

Popcorn has been a crowd-pleasing snack for centuries, and its popularity persists at movie theaters, snack aisles, and parties to this day. While this crunchy, puffy snack is celebrated for its texture and the way it can be prepared with a variety of spices and toppings, it inevitably comes with unpopped kernels that can cause much dental pain if you’re not careful. When enjoying this classic treat, try to take only a few pieces at a time and chew them slowly so you don’t chomp down too hard on an unseen kernel.

Hard Candy Isn’t So Dandy

People love hard candies like peppermint wheels, butterscotch disks, jawbreakers, and the like, but these treats have the unfortunate qualities of being very hard and very sugary. Sugar feeds the harmful oral bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease, and biting down on hard candy can chip your teeth. To make matters worse, these candies are designed to dissolve slowly in a person’s mouth, coating the teeth in a sugary residue. Enjoy hard candies sparingly to protect your teeth.

Meat off the Bone Can Be Like Biting a Stone

Many people hold that the meat closest to the bone is the most tender and flavorful, but biting it directly off the bone can be dangerous for your teeth. When enjoying ribs, chicken wings, or another tasty cut of meat, it’s best to cut the meat off of the bone before consuming it. This will protect your teeth from biting too hard on or scraping against any bones. It’s also a great idea to chew slowly in case any bone fragments are hanging out in a bite of meat.

It’s important to enjoy your food, but it’s also crucial to protect your teeth from injury. By taking care of your smile, you can ensure that you can enjoy a wide variety of delicious foods for years to come.

About the Author

Dr. Mark Gaches earned his dental degree from the University of Southern California and still furthers his training through continuing education courses. He holds a Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry and an accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. His office in Owasso, OK offers general, cosmetic, restorative, and emergency dentistry. For more tips on preventing chipped teeth, contact his office online or dial (918) 928-2383.