Your teeth endure wear and tear from chewing and biting on a regular basis without issue. The tough external layer of the tooth, enamel, keeps your teeth strong and safe while withstanding pressure for your bite. But certain food items may injure your tooth if you bite down too hard.
This will result in a crack or chip in the tooth that could not only disrupt the look of your smile. It will also pose a risk to your oral health.
Knowing which foods could hurt your smile can make sure you stay cautious and avoid this dental injury. Read on to see four foods that could cause your teeth to break if you are not careful.
Protect Your Smile from Foods That Cause Tooth Breakage
Popcorn
Popcorn makes for a delicious and popular snack. Whether out at a movie theater or enjoying a bowl at home, you might love popcorn’s light and soft texture. But this fluffy snack can hide hard unpopped kernels lurking in your bowl.
If you bite one of these kernels, you could crack, chip, or fracture your tooth. It will interrupt the shape of your tooth. But it also leaves the tooth vulnerable to dental dangers like bacteria and plaque.
The injury can worsen without prompt treatment from your dentist. Do not hesitate to call your dentist if you hurt your tooth in this way. And be careful the next time you eat popcorn.
Bagels
You can make an amazing sandwich using bagels, and you likely do not worry about biting down on this type of bread. But bagels are denser than many people realize. Carelessly biting into a hard bread like this could lead to tooth breakage.
Take care when eating bagels though and you can avoid this injury. If you do suffer damage to your tooth, your dentist will likely ask you to come to their office for an emergency appointment to repair the damage.
Hard Candy
If you have a sweet tooth, you likely enjoy hard candy. This treat is made from boiled sugary syrup that hardens as it cools into the candy that you love. It is designed to be sucked until it dissolves. But many people feel tempted to bite down on this candy.
Biting hard candy can exude pressure on your teeth that may cause them to break. Your dentist might have to use a dental crown to cover and seal this dental injury. If you cannot resist biting down on hard candy, you may want to avoid this treat.
Corn on the Cob
Corn on the cob is both fun to eat and delicious. But your teeth are not designed to withstand the pressure of biting into the cob of corn. Grating your teeth against this cob could cause you to hurt your tooth.
To protect your smile, you should consider alternative ways to eat corn. But if you do want to indulge in this food, be careful about the way that you bite and chew so you can prevent an injury.