Everyone has done it at one time or another. You’re away from your scissors and you need something to cut with. Why not use your pearly whites?
YOUR TEETH ARE NOT TOOLS
The enamel on your teeth is one of the hardest substances in your body. But that doesn’t mean you should use it as your own personal Swiss Army knife. We’ve heard of people doing wild things with their teeth, like biting off price tags, ripping open containers, chomping off pieces of tape, or even opening bottles!
Remember: Your teeth are not tools
Your tooth enamel is a protective coating that protects the tools you need to eat food. And while enamel may be tough, your teeth are not abuse-resistant and can crack and break like anything else. Tooth damage is painful, so don’t put your smile at risk.
Be kind to your pearly whites! Use them for chewing and speaking, not as power tools! Here are some ways to start breaking bad habits:
- Stop chewing ice
Crunching ice cubes is easy to do, especially when it’s hot outside and you’re thirsty for every drop of your cold beverage. If you feel like you need it, though, opt for a separate glass of water without ice instead of chowing down on those hard cubes. Save yourself some irreparable damage to your teeth.
- No more cutting. Teeth are not scissors.
Avoid using your teeth to cut or pull-on things, like tape, bags of chips, fishing line, or even shopping tags. This can wear your enamel down, leading to cavities, sensitivity to temperatures, and worse. Use actual tools instead and save yourself the pain and financial misery that comes with oral health damage.
- Don’t be a show-off
Don’t try to pop off a bottle cap with your teeth. Not only can the cap cut your tongue or gums, but it can also crack or break a tooth.
You should use your teeth for only three tasks:
- Cutting and chewing food
- Helping you pronounce words
- Smiling
Chipped and cracked teeth can be very painful and may lead to permanent damage or even extraction. For some people, chewing on objects like pencils or fingernails is a hard-to-break habit. However, you can stop. It just takes patience and practice.
Learn more about how to keep your teeth healthy:
