Everyone knows how important it is to brush and floss daily, but taking care of your teeth requires much more than that. To keep your pearly whites safe from harm, you also need to be mindful of what you put in your mouth. Every year, dentists encounter countless patients experiencing dental emergencies because they bit down on the wrong object. To help you avoid a dental emergency in New York, here are five things you shouldn’t put in your mouth to maintain a healthy smile.
#1: Lemons
Lemons are highly acidic, so sucking on slices of them can damage your smile by eroding tooth enamel and throwing off the pH balance of your mouth. Stay away from this dangerous habit and consider adding a slice of lemon to a beverage instead. This will allow you to enjoy the sour, lemony goodness without putting your teeth in harm’s way.
#2: Ice Cubes
Chewing on leftover ice cubes after finishing a cool drink may seem harmless, but this habit can easily damage your teeth. Eating ice cubes can break, chip, or crack your teeth and lead to a visit to the emergency dentist. To protect your teeth from injury, consider drinking beverages through a straw to reduce the urge to munch on the remaining ice cubes.
#3: Fingernails
While nail-biting is a nervous habit for 20 to 30% of Americans, it can cause harm to your smile over time. Biting your fingernails can lead to premature tooth wear as well as cracks in the enamel. It is also incredibly unsanitary since you’re introducing unsavory germs and bacteria from your hands into your mouth. If you’re having trouble resisting the temptation, try chewings on a piece of sugar-free gum instead.
#4: Pens or Pencils
While working on assignments, some people mindlessly chew on the end of their pen or pencil. This habit can lead to broken or chipped teeth and will also introduce unwanted bacteria and germs into your mouth. Instead of chewing on writing utensils, eat a tooth-healthy snack like carrot sticks or apple slices to satisfy the need to munch on something.
#5: Hard Candy
Hard candy is meant to melt in your mouth, not to be chewed on. If you aren’t patient and start to crunch it up, this may lead to cracked or broken teeth and cuts on the inside of your mouth. Additionally, hard candy lingers in your mouth for a long time, which exposes your teeth to cavity-causing sugar for an extended period. Switch to sugar-free candy and allow it to dissolve in your mouth to avoid unnecessary damage to your teeth.
Since your dentist would never put these things in their mouth, neither should you. Avoid chomping on these five foods and objects to keep your smile healthy and bright for years to come!
About the Practice
Gramercy Dental Studio aims to bring exceptional, effective, and efficient oral health services to the residents of New York City. They offer several comprehensive treatment options and take pride in making patients feel safe and well cared for during their appointments so they can better their smiles in a pleasant, comfortable environment. Visit their website or call their office at (212) 924-6890 to schedule an appointment or to learn more about what items to avoid putting in your mouth.
