Whether you are on vacation or enjoying a staycation because of COVID-19, it’s doubtful that visiting the emergency dentist in Carrollton is on your list of to-dos during this time. Instead, your time should be spent doing what you love, not scrambling for help to minimize pain and discomfort from a dental accident. Unfortunately, certain foods can turn a day at the beach into a panicked drive to the dentist’s office. Before you start packing your goodie bag of treats or making a trip to the grocery store, check out these food items you should avoid if you want to keep your smile intact and injury-free.
Hard Candies
Your child may plead for their favorite suckers or hard candies, but these food items can do more than cause cavities. While the sugar and its ability to cause decay is something to be concerned about, you should also be worried that your little one (or you) might chip or break a tooth. As an adult, you may find it hard to avoid biting down on one of these tasty treats but so will your child. This is when disaster can strike. To avoid chips, breaks, or even fractures, it’s best to leave these on the grocery store shelf.
Citrus Fruits
Yes, fruits like oranges, lemons, and pomegranates are indeed good options to incorporate into your daily diet. However, too much of any citrus fruit can be damaging to your teeth. Not only can it erode your tooth enamel and put you at a higher risk for tooth decay, but it can also lead to tooth sensitivity as well as irritate any sores you might have in your oral cavity. If you choose to eat or add any of these to a beverage, make sure to drink plenty of water as well.
Ice
Although ice offers no nutritional value to your diet, you may find yourself chomping down on a glass of ice while relaxing by the pool. Chewing ice is one of the worst habits you can develop, as it can easily break and chip teeth, and it can quickly wear down tooth enamel. It’s always best to let these hard cubes melt slowly and keep your beverage cool, but if you find it too tempting, opt to fill your glass with an already cold drink and skip the ice altogether.
Sticky, Chewy Foods
Whether it is candy, dried fruit, or trail mix, sticky foods can leave a lasting effect on your teeth. How? By adhering to the chewing surfaces of your teeth. If you don’t brush and floss your teeth immediately after eating these types of foods, you could be faced with tooth decay, gum disease, and other harmful dental problems. Do you have a restoration? If so, a single piece of sticky candy can pull off your dental crown or filling and have you seeking immediate dental care from your dentist in Carrollton.
No one wants to spend their vacation getting a filling, dental crown, or root canal. By avoiding these damage-causing food items, you can stay out of the dentist’s chair and continue enjoying time spent with those you love.
About the Author
Dr. Moji Chandy earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from NYU College of Dentistry and has been practicing dentistry for more than 12 years. Opening Aegis Dental in 2012, she and her team place aim to help patients as quickly as possible when accidents occur. Understanding they can happen anytime, anyplace, she invites her patients to contact her after hours if the issue is particularly urgent. If you or a loved one need immediate assistance for a dental injury, visit our website or call (972) 492-6700.