If you routinely use your teeth for something other than chewing food of normal textures, and for smiling, you may be at risk of damaging them and needing additional dental care from a dentist in Providence RI. Many people develop habits of using teeth for behaviors that can cause chips and other damage.
For instance, you might enjoy chewing on ice. This is a relatively common practice, but it’s very tough on teeth. Not only is the substance extremely hard, it’s also freezing cold. That combination makes your teeth extra vulnerable to cracking. It’s also best to avoid chewing on unpopped popcorn kernels or hard candy. Stick with the fluffy white popcorn and suck on hard candy instead of chewing it. In addition, be sure to floss before going to bed if you’ve eaten popcorn, since the kernel pieces are notorious for getting stuck in between teeth.
Ice isn’t exactly food, but it certainly qualifies more as food than some other things people like to chew on. Gnawing on pen caps and fingernails, for instance, isn’t particularly good for teeth. Using teeth to cut a loose thread from fabric is another problematic activity. It’s an even worse idea to cut a plastic thread holding a price tag onto something. Any of these actions can lead to top and bottom teeth banging together if the object between them slips out. Use a scissors to cut threads, and make a point of not chewing on your nails, pens or the tips of your eyeglass frames.
Gum is exactly food either, but this is an exception to the rule, as long as the gum is sugarless. Sugarless gum actually can be good for teeth for certain reasons. It stimulates saliva production, and saliva has protective effects for tooth enamel. That prevents tooth decay. Sugarless gum that contains xylitol goes a step further, since this substance also protects enamel.
A Dentist in Providence RI is happy to provide other helpful tips about what behaviors to avoid so you can keep your teeth and gums healthy. Contact a practice such as Atwill-Conroy Dental Associates for an appointment for a checkup, professional teeth cleaning and polishing, and further recommendations for oral health.
