What Not to Use your Teeth For

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Our teeth are some of the best tools we have to help us in myriad facets of life. However, it’s easy to get into the habit of using our teeth for jobs they were never meant for. This can cause some serious damage – even long-term damage – if you continue these bad habits.

Let’s take a moment to look at some of the activities Dr. David Solomon recommends you avoid using your teeth for.

Cutting

When you have a plastic package or other item that just refuses to open properly, it’s easy to get frustrated, bite it, and rip it open with your teeth. While that usually gets the job done, it’s not good on your teeth. Repeated heavy pressure and tearing motions can erode the biting surface of your teeth, and if the plastic slips and you bite your teeth together hard you could chip them as well, which would require some type of cosmetic dentistry to fix.

Holding/biting objects

We’re all guilty of this one, especially if you work in an office setting. Chewing on the end of your pen or pencil, or holding objects in your teeth, also presents the opportunity for your teeth to easily chip, break or otherwise fracture. It’s hard to avoid doing this, but doing it as little as possible can greatly increase the chance of keeping your teeth in great shape.

For more information or tips on how to properly use your teeth, call us today at 781-665-5222.