Foods that Commonly Chip Teeth (Be Careful!)
When you take care of your teeth the last thing you want to deal with is a chipped tooth. This damage can be painful and annoying to deal with. Unfortunately, some of your favourite foods can lead to an accidental crack or chip! Knowing which foods to avoid or be more careful with can help you avoid a painful dental emergency.
At Reflections Dental in Oakville, ON, we love providing our patient community tips on preventing oral health problems. Read our blog for more articles or if you’d like to become a patient, contact our Oakville dental office!
1. Hard Candy
Hard candies like suckers, cough drops, Jolly Ranchers and Lifesavers may be tasty, but they can lead to chipped or cracked teeth if you bite down on them in the wrong way. These hard, sugary sweets can also cause tooth decay or cavities if a good oral care routine isn’t part of your day.
2. Un-popped popcorn kernels
While most people won’t intentionally eat an unpopped popcorn kernel, it’s definitely possible to have one sneak in with a handful of popcorn. Unpopped kernels are very hard, and can easily crack or chip teeth. Even if the tooth doesn’t break, it can get bruised which is also painful.
3. Crunchy or stale bread
Although bread may seem like an unlikely culprit for chipped teeth, it can actually cause quite an issue! Crunchy breads like baguette and biscotti or those that are stale, overcooked, or chewy can seriously harm teeth, especially if they are already weak.
4. Ice cubes and chips
Not only is ice very hard, the freezing temperature can play a role in how easily it can chip your teeth. Chewing on cold ice can cause tiny, hairline cracks to form in your teeth. You may not notice it happening, but over time these cracks can lead to teeth sensitivity, larger cracks and even chips.
5. Frozen foods
While ice cream likely won’t cause direct damage to your teeth, frozen fruits, ice cream bars and candy bars can cause cracks. Treats that contain caramel or require you to bite down hard or pull to get a bite off can also put too much pressure on your teeth.
6. Corn on the cob
Your front teeth aren’t designed for the chewing and grinding that corn on the cob requires. Their thin profile and tapered ends make your front teeth susceptible to chips and cracks when you’re eating this summer treat.
7. Fruits that have a pit or large seeds
We tend to bite down fairly hard when chewing, so accidentally finding a fruit pit or hard seed with your teeth can result in cracks or chips. Fruits like cherries, olives, peaches, apricots and plums are examples of foods that may surprise you with a hard pit.
8. Hard nuts
Nuts are a nutritious snack choice, however hard nuts like almonds can harm your teeth. Using your teeth to open shells like peanuts, pistachios or sunflower seeds can also lead to tooth problems. It’s also possible to accidently bite down on a shell fragment, or get a piece of peanut skin stuck in your gums which can be both irritating and harmful.
9. Bone-in foods
Foods like wings, ribs and chicken legs aren’t likely to cause trouble for your teeth on their own, but the bones inside the meat may. When meats are cooked, they usually become tender and soft, however the bones may become brittle and more susceptible to breaking and splintering. Soups and salads containing meat that has been pulled off a bone can also pose a risk.
Prevent cracks and chips
There are a number of things you can do to help prevent or reduce your chances of chipping a tooth. Although accidents can always happen, being mindful of what you put in your mouth can prevent the majority of potential issues.
Top tips to avoid chipping your teeth:
- Chew with your molars rather than your front teeth
- Don’t chew hard or extremely cold foods
- Ensure foods like meat and fruit are removed from their bones and pits
- Chew slowly and look before you bite
Severely chipped tooth? Contact your dentist immediately!
If you do notice a crack or chip in your teeth, it’s important to contact your dentist immediately so they can plan a time to repair it, even if it doesn’t hurt yet!
