Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the body, but this doesn’t mean that it’s invincible. Fighting, sports injuries, accidents and trauma and even eating certain foods are all common causes of chipped and broken teeth. Here are three of the most hazardous foods for your teeth:
- Boiled sweets
Boiled sweets and hard toffees, humbugs and jellies can be a real nightmare for your teeth, even though they taste delicious. Biting down on hard sweets can easily result in a chipped or broken tooth. It’s also worth noting that sweets are laden with sugar, which increases the risk of acid erosion of the enamel and subsequent cavities. Lollipops come in the same bracket; hard lollies are a risk for the tooth enamel, while chewy lollies are a nightmare for people who have fillings and damaged, crumbly teeth.
- Ice
Chewing on ice is never a good idea. Although ice is made simply from water, chewing on ice cubes can damage the tooth enamel and we strongly advise sticking to drinking water in its liquid form. Chewing ice can also wreak havoc for people with sensitive teeth.
- Nuts
Nuts have many nutritional benefits, but they are often hard and require a lot of crunching and chewing. Try to crush nuts before you eat them and take care when biting down on them.
Remedies for chipped teeth
If you chip a tooth, there are various options available. In most cases, a chipped tooth is not a dental emergency, but chips can affect the look of the smile, as well as increasing the risk of damage to the tooth, so it’s advisable to have treatment. One effective option for chipped teeth is cosmetic bonding, which involves using dental composite to build up and repair the tooth. The procedure is painless and it only takes one hour.
