Dentists know that many dental emergencies can happen when you least expect them. While accidents aren’t always preventable, some everyday habits can increase the risk of a chipped, cracked, broken, or painful tooth. Your dentist may be more careful about what goes into their mouth because they understand how easily certain habits can damage teeth. Here are 4 things your dentist likely avoids to help protect their smile, and habits you may want to avoid, too.
1. Other People’s Toothbrushes
Maybe you spent the night at a friend’s house and forgot yours, or in your early morning rush, you’re tempted to reach for your significant other’s because it’s handy.
Whatever the case, it’s unwise to use anybody’s toothbrush but your own. Not only is someone else’s device full of bacteria, but it’s also an incredibly easy way to pick up an illness if the other person is sick or about to be.
Furthermore, your dentist would advise you to use your own toothbrush twice a day and to floss once every day. Healthy teeth are strong teeth, and strong teeth aren’t as susceptible to dental emergencies like fractures.
2. Metal Bottle Caps
It’s probably a safe bet that if your dentist ever put a metal bottle cap in their mouth, they only did it once. Your teeth are tough cookies, but if you pit them against metal, they’re going to lose every time.
For instance, if you’re ready to crack open and enjoy your favorite beverage but can’t find a bottle opener, don’t use your teeth as an alternative to pop the top off. If you must, your house key or the edge of a table can be used to pop the top off, or delay your enjoyment until you can locate your bottle opener.
A broken tooth is both painful and a first-class dental emergency. It’s time and money you could easily save by avoiding using your teeth as a tool.
3. Extremely Hard Foods and Candies
Dentists may know how to care for other people’s smiles as well as their own, but they’re also human. They’ve no doubt chewed on the ice in their drink or a piece of butterscotch candy at some point. They’d also be the first to advise their patients not to make a habit of it because of the unnecessary stress it puts on your teeth.
Hard candies are particularly worth being cautious about for two reasons: people may bite down on them rather than allowing them to dissolve, and they’re full of sugar, which can lead to tooth decay.
4. Keys
This one may surprise you, but dentists will tell you that keys have definitely been known to be culprits behind broken teeth.
Why? You get out of your car and have 6 bags of groceries and a baby to carry inside the house. You don’t have enough hands for the job, so you put your keys in your mouth and bite down on them to hold them in place. Next thing you know, a piece of a tooth is falling out of your mouth and on top of your eggs.
Also, keys collect an enormous amount of germs and bacteria, and you’re too busy taking care of that baby to be getting sick!
So, remember: if your dentist wouldn’t put it in their mouth, it’s a good idea for you to follow their example. And if you do suffer a dental emergency, go see them immediately. They won’t hold it against you!
About the Practice
Canyon Creek Family Dentistry of Richardson is here for you if you’ve suffered a dental emergency. We offer same-day appointments for patients in need of urgent care and are available evenings and weekends, too. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at (972) 644-3800 so we can begin caring for you, or you can reach us online.