Your teeth allow you to tear into and grind your food, aiding your digestion process. They endure wear and tear on a regular basis without issue usually. But under extreme circumstances, a tooth might chip, crack, or fracture.
If you break a tooth, you create a vulnerable area where oral bacteria can penetrate and further damage your dental structure. You will require urgent restorative treatment from a dentist to repair this damage quickly before your oral health deteriorates.
Accidents can happen to the best of us, but sometimes, your diet can influence your likelihood of suffering an injury to a tooth. Certain foods and beverages can heighten and lower this risk. Learn more about how your diet can harm or help your smile when you read on.
Which Foods Might Crack a Tooth?
Under high amounts of pressure, a tooth could crack, leaving you with irreversible damage to your enamel. To prevent this type of dental injury, be careful when you bite into hard, chewy, or sticky foods. Examples of food items that could cause tooth breakage include:
- Popcorn
- Bagels
- Hard candy
- Corn on the cob
- Ice
- Fruits with pits
Can My Diet Strengthen My Teeth?
While some foods prove dangerous to your teeth, other foods or beverages could make your teeth stronger. Teeth can weaken, making them more prone to injury, when you consume acidic, starchy, or sugary food items. But you can fortify your teeth by including certain foods in your diet, including:
- Dairy products
- Leafy green vegetables
- Apples and other fibrous fruits and vegetables
- Tap water
Look for calcium-rich foods that can add structure to your teeth. Crunching into a fruit can boost oral hygiene, eliminating harmful plaque between teeth-brushing regimens. And tap water contains fluoride which can further strengthen your teeth and help you fight cavities and other dental issues.
How Do I Preserve My Dental Structure?
Your diet can play a crucial role in preserving the appearance, function, and health of your smile. But adhering to good preventive dental habits will also keep your teeth strong enough to lower the chances of tooth breakage and other dental issues.
Practice proper oral hygiene at home, including brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing daily. You can also benefit by introducing more targeted oral hygiene tools, such as mouthwash and water flossers.
Optimal preventive oral healthcare will also require regular attention from a dentist. During a check-up appointment, a dentist will provide professional teeth cleaning services that clear away plaque build-up that a toothbrush might miss. They will also perform an oral exam to ensure you do not have underlying dental issues that could be hurting your teeth without your knowledge.
When you maintain this routine dental attention, your teeth can be strong enough to resist dental injuries. If you do suffer this dental emergency, make sure you call your dentist right away. They will need to treat the problem promptly to prevent other serious dental issues.