Picture this: it’s the weekend, and you’re looking forward to enjoying a nice, cold bottle of soda. But you’re having trouble popping off the cap. What do you do?
If you answered, “try to pry it open or loosen it with my teeth,” you’re not alone. Plenty of people sink their teeth into things they really shouldn’t! These 5 tooth-breakers are just a sampling of hazardous substances. Keep reading to learn why you should avoid chewing on them and other such items.
#1. Any Type of Bottlecap
Let’s continue with the soda bottlecap analogy. These metallic caps are rock-solid, right? That’s part of what makes them so difficult to open. While your teeth are pretty strong, they’re not tougher than a piece of metal! Even your back molars will wear down prematurely or crack under the pressure.
Plastic bottlecaps might seem softer, but they aren’t much better. Leave the bottle-opening to either your hands or your kitchen tools.
#2. Plastic Packaging or Cardboard
These “soft-shelled” containers should also be off the menu. True, plastic wrapping and cardboard might not be as likely to break your teeth as a solid bottlecap, but the tugging and prying motions could wiggle your pearly whites loose. At the end of the day, your teeth simply shouldn’t be your go-to tools.
#3. Your Own Nails
Did you know that fingernails are a 2.5 on the Mohs Scale? This scale measures the relative hardness of objects and is most used to talk about the durability of various gemstones. A rating of 2.5 puts your nails on-par with hard plastics – like plastic bottlecaps! Kicking your nail-biting habit is as beneficial for your dental health as not using your teeth to open plastic bottlecaps.
#4. Anyone Else’s Toothbrush
Technically, this one isn’t a tooth-breaker. But it’s still an oral-health – and general health – hazard. You might think you’re doing your pearly whites a favor by borrowing your friend’s toothbrush for a night. However, what you’re really doing is introducing your friend’s bacteria and saliva to your biological biome. This is precisely how illnesses spread, so it’s better to just make the midnight trip to a convenience store when you forget your toothbrush.
#5. Toothpicks Aren’t Flossers
Think about it this way: you’re poking around your gums with what are essentially needle-like wooden stakes. Make one wrong move and you’re in for sore gums or a cut that’s perfect for sheltering harmful bacteria. Don’t think simply chewing a toothpick is much safer! If you wear it down and it splinters, those shards are likely to get lodged in your soft oral tissues. Stick to dental floss or a water flosser for cleaning between your teeth.
Overall, hard or pointy substances are likely to damage your teeth or gums. If you’d rather your smile last for a long time, you should save your chewing power for eating delicious food. That’ll be one less dental emergency trip you’re likely to take!
About the Dentist
Dr. Sujal Patel earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from New York University. He has a kind and friendly nature and takes the time to get to know his patients. If you have a hazardous habit that’s dangerous for your teeth, Dr. Patel will hear you out without judgment and focus on helping you to preserve your oral health with quality care. To contact his office, call 972-818-5649.