Your teeth undergo wear and tear everyday without issue. But abnormally high pressures may cause teeth to crack, chip, or fracture. Biting down on hard-textured food could break your teeth and cause more damage. You will need to see a dentist right away to fix the damage.
You can protect your teeth by circumventing this damage with precautionary measures. You can prevent this harm to your mouth if you know which foods could hurt your teeth. Below we list some foods that put patients at risk of breaking their teeth and requiring emergency dental treatments.
Foods That Could Hurt Your Smile
Popcorn
Popcorn is a popular snack enjoyed at home and out at a movie theater. Its fluffy, light texture is appealing, but your bowl might be hiding un-popped kernels too.
Unknowingly biting down on a hard kernel could crack your tooth. This crack could deepen over time, even if you do not feel pain from the injury. Make sure you schedule an urgent dental evaluation if you break your tooth to protect your oral health.
Cracked teeth can lead to root canal infections. You will need a root canal procedure to fix the crack or break and save the tooth from extraction.
Bagels
Bagels and other hard bread can help you construct a delicious sandwich. Though you may imagine that bread is soft, bagels are dense in texture. Bagels can generate more pressure than you could guess when you bite into them. This heightens your risk for tooth breakage, so you should be careful when you consume hard bread.
Hard Candy
Lollipops and other hard candies are made by boiling sugary syrup and allowing it to harden as it cools. You should suck these sweet treats until they dissolve, but it is tempting to bite down on the candies while they sit in your mouth.
However, this act could seriously hurt your teeth, so you should resist doing so. If you do break a tooth, our dentist will repair this injury using a dental crown.
Corn on the Cob
Corn on the cob is not only delicious, but fun to eat. However, our teeth are not designed to bite into the core of an ear of corn. The grating of teeth against a corn cob may cause teeth to chip or crack.
It could also damage prior dental work, such as fillings or veneers. If this occurs, consider it a dental emergency, and visit your dentist as soon as possible.
Ice Cubes
Many people enjoy crunching on ice, especially on hot days. But this habit can be terrible for your teeth. Ice is extremely hard, and chewing it can cause tiny cracks in your enamel that grow over time.
These cracks can cause tooth sensitivity or even major breaks requiring dental repair. If you crave that crunchy feeling, try snacking on chilled carrot sticks or apple slices instead. For cold treats, let ice melt in your mouth rather than biting down.
Nut Shells
When you’re eating nuts, it might seem convenient to crack open the shells with your teeth, but this is asking for trouble. Nut shells are much harder than the nuts inside and can easily fracture teeth. Even biting into unexpected shell fragments in pre-shelled nuts can cause damage.
Always use a nutcracker, and be cautious when eating trail mixes or baked goods that might contain hidden shell pieces. Your teeth will thank you for taking the extra time.
Olive Pits
Olives make great additions to salads and pizzas, but their hard pits can be dangerous if you bite down unexpectedly. Many people have cracked teeth on olive pits, especially when eating quickly or in dim lighting.
Choose pitted olives when possible, and always check before taking a bite. If you do encounter a pit, spit it out gently rather than trying to crack it with your teeth. The same caution applies to other stone fruits like cherries and peaches.
Bones in Meat
While meat itself is tooth-friendly, hidden bones can pose serious risks. Small bones in fish, chicken, or ribs can crack teeth if bitten unexpectedly. Be especially careful with foods like chicken wings or fish fillets where bones might be overlooked.
Take time to inspect your food and remove any bones before eating. If you do bite down on something hard while eating meat, stop immediately to check what it was rather than continuing to chew.
Hard Pretzels
Those crunchy pretzels might seem harmless, but their rock-hard texture can be tough on teeth. Biting into a stiff pretzel rod or the thick center of a large pretzel can create enough pressure to chip a tooth, especially if you already have fillings or weak enamel. Instead of biting directly into large pretzels, try breaking them into smaller pieces first. For a tooth-friendlier crunch, opt for lightly toasted whole-grain bread or baked veggie chips.
Fruit Seeds
Watermelon, apple, and other fruit seeds may be tiny, but they’re surprisingly hard. Accidentally biting down on a seed at the wrong angle can cause microfractures in your enamel that worsen over time. While most seeds pass harmlessly, some (like peach pits or large watermelon seeds) are particularly risky.
When eating seeded fruits, try to remove seeds first or spit them out gently instead of chewing them. Seedless varieties can be a safer choice for your smile.
Find Emergency Dental Treatment in Claremont, CA
Claremont Dental Institute is a dental practice serving patients in Claremont, CA. We offer both preventative and emergency dental care to our patients of all ages. Get expert general, holistic, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry at our practice.
If you feel nervous about upcoming dental procedures, ask our dental professional about sedation dentistry options. Contact our office at (909) 277-6919 to schedule an appointment with our dental care team.