Chipping a tooth is an easy mistake to make while eating or drinking, and while there are ways to fix chipped teeth (a dentist can simply file down the tooth), you may not even notice that you have. As well as causing pain to your mouth, chipped teeth can also leave you with an unattractive smile if it’s not taken care of immediately. As always, the best way to cure is to actually prevent, but dental issues often occur without much warning so here are some tips on how to avoid chipping your teeth in the future.
First, let’s start with some things that you should do in order to avoid chipping a tooth:
1) Chew softly
When you chew too hard on something – whether it’s ice, popcorn kernels, or other hard or sharp foods – you increase the chances of chipping one of your teeth. When you chew, your teeth move and shift in their position; if you put too much strain on them, one of them could break, chip or crack.
2) Look after your dental health
If you care for your oral hygiene by brushing twice a day and flossing regularly then it’s less likely for your teeth to chip. As well as brushing your teeth twice a day, you should also visit the dentist for regular check-ups. If you go to the dentist whenever there are issues with your dental health, then they can keep on top of any problems which could damage your teeth even more in future.
3) Get enough vitamins and minerals
If you don’t eat a balanced diet then there’s a chance that your teeth won’t be strong enough to resist chipping or cracking. If you take vitamin supplements, they can help to strengthen your teeth even more so it’s important that you have the recommended daily allowance of vitamins and minerals in order to keep your teeth and enamel strong.
4) Use straws
Of course, not all drinks are suitable for straw drinking, such as wine. However, some liquids are definitely easier on the digestive system when drunk with a straw rather than being poured directly into the mouth. Softer drinks such as fruit juices are especially good for drinking with straws because they very acidic which means they can dissolve the enamel on your teeth more easily.
There are also a few things you should avoid in order to not chip your teeth:
1) Don’t chew ice cubes
If you’re ever holding an ice cube in your mouth, it’s best to pop it out as soon as possible because they can melt and slip into gaps between your teeth where they then become difficult to remove. As well as this, ice that’s been crushed can act like small chisels which means it can chip your tooth while you’re still trying to bite through it!
2) Be cautious when drinking hot drinks
Everyone likes drinking tea and coffee but they shouldn’t be consumed at extremely high temperatures because this increases the chances of chipping or cracking one of your teeth. Sometimes if you take a sip after it’s been sitting for some time (and it has gone cold), you can chip a tooth simply by biting down on it.
3) Don’t Open Items With Your Teeth
You might have seen people open beer bottles with their teeth before but this does not mean it’s a good idea. Because the bottle is slippery and you can’t get a firm grip on it, there’s nothing to stop the pressure building up in your mouth until one of the teeth snaps-it happens all too often so don’t become another victim! Whilst drinking through straws is recommended for soft drinks, an even safer alternative would be to use other methods such as opener gadgets or bottle-tops.
