While there are plenty of snacks and meals that are delicious, some of them can also cause significant damage to your smile. You could be munching on your favorite treat when all of sudden a piece of your tooth gets chipped off. In more serious cases, you may have to seek emergency dental care. To avoid these issues, it’s best to be aware of at least these five foods that can chip teeth!
#1: Popcorn
If you’re about to watch a new or your favorite movie, chances are you’re also going to enjoy a full bowl of popcorn. Although this buttery and old-fashioned snack is a token for the cinematic experience, it also often contains pesky kernels. Accidentally biting down on these can actually chip, crack, or bruise the tooth. Should you actually damage the nerve, you may need to get root canal.
#2: Bones
Whether it’s for Sunday night football or simply a family favorite meal, many people enjoy a good batch of hot wings. You might also like eating chicken legs, ribs, or other types of meat. However, these meals also come with bones. For this reason, you should pay attention not to gnaw too roughly on these, as one careless bite can become a tooth hazard.
#3: Nuts & Seeds
Some of the more nutritious treats you might appreciate are nuts and seeds. While they provide various health benefits, their hardness can pose a risk of chipping your teeth. Even if they don’t cause a dental emergency, they could still gradually wear down your enamel, leading to dental problems in the future.
#4: Hard Candies
Many people enjoy various hard candies you can get at the convenience store. However, these treats are meant to be held in the mouth and dissolved steadily. If you tend to chew and munch on them instead, you’ll increase your risk of chipping your pearly whites.
#5: Ice Cubes
There are several snacks that are made with ice—such as snow cones, shaved ice, and slushies. These small, frozen fragments tend to mostly cause tooth sensitivity after a while. But when it comes to your favorite drink, you should not chew or bite down on ice cubes. Doing so can cause microscopic cracks in your teeth, which can increase the overall damage to your smile over time.
Being aware of at least these few foods is the first step to preventing further damage. Additionally, you can preserve your smile by cleaning them daily and visiting your dentist often. With their help, you can avoid potential risks while ensuring your teeth remain healthy and safe!
About the Author
Dr. Andrew Aziz earned his dental degree from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. For over a decade, he’s provided outstanding, modern, and passionate dental care while regularly pursuing continuing education to keep improving his expertise. With multiple advanced treatments—like checkups/cleanings, restorative, and emergency dentistry—he can help you achieve and maintain your best smile. If you have a chipped tooth, feel free to visit our website or call 301-698-9552.