Even if you’re dedicated to brushing and flossing your teeth twice daily to keep them strong and healthy, they can be harmed. For instance, it’s possible to bite into something overly hard only to realize you’ve chipped, cracked, or dislodged one. Once the structure is compromised, it’s important to see your dentist sooner rather than later so they can mend the damage before it gets worse.
Understanding which foods are risky to your smile can help you avoid a potential dental emergency. Continue reading to learn about three common culprits notorious for causing problems so you can protect your grin!
Risky Food #1: Popcorn
Fall has finally arrived, and festivities like outdoor fairs or spooky movie nights wouldn’t be complete without this family favorite. Whether you prefer your popcorn buttered and salted or covered with toffee or chocolate, you’re sure to find an option that can please your taste buds. Unfortunately, as delicious as they may be, these fluffy kernels hide a hidden danger in their midst.
Many patients have hurt their teeth or damaged fillings by accidentally biting into one of the unpopped seeds that gather at the bottom of the bag. Not only that, but the thin kernels can also slide between your gums and attract bacteria that contribute to tooth decay and gum disease. You might look for a substitute snack if you’re eager to safeguard your smile.
Risky Food #2: Hard Candy
With Halloween just around the corner, store shelves are packed with sweet treats like lollipops, jolly ranchers, gobstoppers, and other hard candies. If you have a sweet tooth to satisfy, you might feel tempted to stock up at home, too.
However, biting into such solid treats can break a tooth or overwork your temporomandibular joint (TMJ). You might think that allowing it to dissolve in your mouth is less risky, but it only exposes your teeth and gums to sugar for more extended periods, encouraging unwanted germs to flourish. Why not opt for chocolate instead? It’s softer, making it less likely to harm your mouth, and it melts faster once it warms up.
Risky Food #3: Fruits with Pits
If you’re used to soft maraschino cherries that top ice cream sundaes, you might forget that in their natural form, these fruits contain a hard pit at the center. You could end up with an injured tooth if you’re noshing on cherries, olives, peaches, or other produce with these large seeds. Thankfully, many grocery stores sell pitted or seedless varieties so you can safely snack without worrying about breaking anything.
Now that you know what foods to avoid this autumn, you can enjoy the many flavors of the season while preserving your smile!
About the Practice
At Easton Dental Specialists, you and your family benefit from a team of board-certified experts who work together to provide a full array of top-quality services to meet all your needs conveniently under one roof. With decades of combined experience, they welcome patients of all ages and can help improve your oral health regardless of its current condition. They take the time to get to know your unique needs and create fully individualized treatment plans to meet them. Then, they utilize state-of-the-art technology to enhance your comfort while increasing result accuracy. You can request an appointment on the website or call (508) 230-3737.