Dental Danger: 3 Items You Shouldn’t Put in Your Mouth

Many people only consider their dental health when they’re having an immediate concern, like they’ve broken a tooth or developed a cavity. However, practicing proper preventive care can avoid many common problems that contribute to urgent oral issues, like tooth decay, gum disease, and minor injuries.

Although brushing and flossing twice daily are essential to keeping your mouth clean between your routine dental visits every six months, there are other things you can do to protect your oral health. For example, you can avoid putting these 3 common items in your mouth- continue reading to learn more!

Item #1: Someone Else’s Toothbrush

If you’re spending the night at a friend’s house and realize you’ve forgotten to bring a toothbrush along, you might feel tempted to use theirs to clean your teeth before bed. However, they tend to collect a lot of bacteria in the bristles, and any unhealthy germs they’ve been exposed to can spread to your mouth if you share a toothbrush.

You might expect this if they’ve had a cold or flu, but did you know that caries and gum disease are also contagious? If you’re using someone else’s supplies and they have a problem, you could contract it.

Item #2: Bottle Caps

Your teeth are incredibly durable because the protective outer layer of enamel is the hardest substance the human body produces. It’s stronger even than bone, but that doesn’t mean it’s invincible. You could chip or crack your teeth if you use them as tools to try to open bottles with metal caps.

Other people tend to bite on plastic bottle caps to keep them stable while twisting them off. This can also fracture your chompers and/or cause TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders due to the added strain on your jaw.

Item #3: Ice Cubes

Would you be surprised to learn that many people feel tempted to chew ice cubes? Whether it’s due to an iron deficiency, dry mouth, or to alleviate anxiety, this habit isn’t ideal for your dental health. Ice is so hard that biting into it can break one or more pearly whites, which are then at an increased vulnerability to infection or additional damage. You’ll likely require restorations, like dental crowns, to restore their appearance and functionality.

Instead, you can safely sip a chilled beverage that won’t harm your teeth or use a straw if you’re craving something cold to soothe and hydrate your system.

Avoiding chewing overly hard foods or inanimate objects can help avoid injuries to safeguard your smile!

About the Practice

Patients at Blanco Circle Dental Care benefit from two providers who take pride in helping improve their daily lives by enhancing their dental health. Dr. Ed Hajdari is a skilled general dentist with two decades of experience, and Dr. Arian Chehrehsa is a Board-Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. They collaborate cohesively to offer a comprehensive menu of services to meet all your family’s needs at one convenient location. Whether you require basic preventive services to strengthen your teeth or have an urgent problem requiring immediate attention, they are eager to assist. You can request an appointment on the website or by calling (831) 422-7838.