Dentistry and nutrition go hand in hand. Your teeth are valuable tools for being able to process your food, and taking proper care of them will allow you to do that much more effectively.
The inverse is also true—being mindful about what you eat can go a long way toward ensuring that your teeth stay healthy and damage-free. For example, there are some foods that can easily chip your teeth if you aren’t careful. Here’s are some that you might want to avoid if you’re trying to keep your teeth in one piece.
Bone-In Meat
Whether it’s ribs or wings, bone in meat tends to be the most delicious and tender out there. However, the bones themselves can pose a serious problem for your teeth, particularly if you bite down on them inadvertently.
You don’t necessarily have to abstain from these foods entirely; for some people, a life without ribs isn’t one worth living! But it’s a good idea to pull the meat off the bone as you eat it, as this minimizes the risk of accidentally biting into bone tissue.
Hard Candies
Hard candies are one of the absolute worst things that you can put in your mouth, for several reasons. There’s of course the risk of accidentally biting into these candies at the wrong time, leading you to chip or crack a tooth. However, even under the best circumstances, these foods can leave sugar on your teeth that contributes to the growth of bacteria.
If you can’t hold off your sweet tooth, you can at least opt for softer candies that can wash away much more easily. Chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, tends to be the best candies for your oral health.
Popcorn Kernels
Popcorn in itself is a perfectly fine treat, but chewing up the kernels can be an absolute disaster for your teeth. Unpopped popcorn tends to be far too hard to chew normally, and attempting to do so is an easy way to wind up with a dental emergency.
Dental hygiene is an important part of keeping your oral health in good condition, but if you’re interested in making that as easy as possible for yourself, avoiding these foods is a good place to start.
About the Author
Dr. Michael Zhang got into dentistry because it gave him an opportunity to work with his hands and make use of his attention to detail. However, his favorite thing about his work is the relationships he makes with his patients and helping them understand how best to take care of their oral health. Dr. Zhang received his dental degree from the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dentistry, and since then has dedicated himself to continuing his education each year.
If you have any questions about how to take care of your teeth, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (714) 465-5589.