Your Teeth Are Strong but Not Indestructible
Your teeth are pretty impressive! They handle breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, conversations, smiles, and the occasional ice cube crunch, and they do all of that day after day. Teeth are built to withstand a lot, but even tooth enamel has its limits.
Your Teeth Are Not Tools
We understand the temptation: A stubborn package won’t open, your hands are full, and your teeth are conveniently available. Unfortunately, using your teeth to tear open packaging, loosen a knot, crack something hard, or do any other job better suited to a tool can lead to chips, cracks, and damage to existing dental work.
Be Careful With the Really Crunchy Stuff
Crunchy foods can absolutely be part of a normal diet, but there is a difference between crunching a carrot and chewing ice, hard candy, popcorn kernels, or other objects that put concentrated pressure on your teeth. Sometimes a tooth handles that pressure just fine, until one day it doesn’t. This is especially important if you have fillings, crowns, veneers, or other dental restorations.
Your Teeth May Be Working Overtime While You Sleep
Not all wear and tear happens while you are awake. Clenching and grinding can place significant pressure on the teeth and may contribute to wear, chips, cracks, sensitivity, or jaw discomfort over time. The tricky part is that you may not realize you are doing it, particularly if it happens while you sleep. That is one reason we pay attention to wear patterns during your appointments. If you wake up with a tired or sore jaw, notice your teeth seem to be wearing down, or have been told that you grind your teeth, let us know.
Little Changes Are Worth Mentioning
A small chip may not hurt. A rough edge might only bother your tongue occasionally. Perhaps your bite suddenly feels a little different, or one tooth feels sensitive when you chew something particularly hard. Those changes do not automatically mean something serious is happening, but they are worth mentioning.
Protecting Your Teeth Isn’t Complicated
Most of the time, being kind to your teeth comes down to a few common-sense habits. Use scissors instead of your incisors. Leave the ice in your drink instead of crunching it. Don’t ignore changes in how a tooth feels. Wear a mouthguard when appropriate, and follow any recommendations we have made to protect your teeth or dental work, and, of course, keep up with the basics. Regular brushing, flossing, and professional dental care all help keep your teeth and the structures supporting them healthy.
Strong Teeth Deserve a Little Respect
We want your natural teeth to keep doing their jobs for as long as possible. That doesn’t mean worrying about every bite you take. It simply means giving those hardworking teeth a little consideration before asking them to do a job they were never designed for. So, enjoy the crunchy apple. Smile wide. Laugh often. And when you encounter that impossible plastic package, please take a moment to get the scissors.
If it’s time for your next appointment, call our office located in Bend, OR. We look forward to seeing you and helping you keep those hardworking teeth healthy, strong, and doing what they do best.
