Things You Should Never Put in Your Mouth

There’s a lot that goes into maintaining proper oral hygiene. Brushing and flossing your teeth are paramount, as is regularly visiting the dentist—but good habits aside, you also need to refrain from letting certain objects enter your mouth. Even though some foods and consumables can be irresistibly tempting, you should heed your dentist’s advice; after all, they’re the expert! Here are a few things, some of which aren’t even foods, that you should avoid putting in your mouth entirely to prevent a dental emergency.

Which Foods Should I Avoid?

There are certain foods that can become very problematic when they enter your mouth, including:

• Lemons – Even though they’re fruit, sucking on lemons isn’t wise; their high levels of acidity can lead to enamel erosion and a pH imbalance inside of the mouth.
• Hard candies – These candies linger in the mouth for extended periods of time, delivering a sizable amount of sugar. If not fully dissolved, chewing on them can lead to cracked teeth and cuts on the inside of the mouth.
• Potato chips – Chips are tasty, and it’s easy to eat more than one; but the amount of starch, sugar, and acidity found in them makes them hazardous for your teeth.
• Ice cubes – People love chewing on ice cubes for some reason, but this can easily lead to fractured teeth.

What Non-Food Items Should I Avoid?

These non-food items should be avoided entirely:

• Metal bottle caps – Do not use your teeth in lieu of a bottle opener!
• Plastic bottle tops – Trying to twist these open with your teeth can lead to not only fractures, but also muscle and TMJ (temporomandibular joint) pain.
• Other people’s toothbrushes – This is an excellent way to get sick, as sharing toothbrushes is a surefire way to spread bacteria.
• Fingernails – Biting your nails is an unsanitary habit that can flatten the edges of your front teeth and create cracks in your enamel, causing hypersensitivity.
• Keys – If your hands are full, it might seem easier to grip your keys in your teeth. But this can cause chipping, cracking, and will also transfer bacteria to your mouth.
• Pens, pencils, paperclips, and erasers – These items are often riddled with bacteria and have parts that can easily damage your teeth.
• Jewelry – Facial piercings and jewelry can cause chronic injury to adjacent teeth, as well as the cheeks, lips, and taste buds.
• Cigarettes – There is an almost infinite number of reasons why cigarettes are bad for your health, but they are especially hard on your mouth. Stained teeth and bad breath head a long list of potential issues that can sometimes lead to oral cancer.

If you ever catch yourself mindlessly chewing on an ice cube, or suddenly feel the urge to smoke a cigarette, stop and think—if your dentist wouldn’t put it in their mouth, why should you? Showing a little bit of measure and restraint now can save you from a serious headache (literally) in the future.

About the Practice

Harris Parkway Dental Care has served families in Fort Worth and the surrounding area for several years. They offer various services including cosmetic, preventive, restorative, as well as emergency dentistry. Helmed by Dr. Brad McConnell and Dr. Yaritza Vazquez, they enjoy listening to the concerns of their patients and helping them achieve great oral health. If you have any questions about the article or would like to schedule an appointment with Harris Parkway Dental Care, they can be reached via their website or telephone: (817) 423-2223.