In one moment, an accident can happen, resulting in a serious dental injury and same-day visit to your emergency dentist’s office. The entire experience can be stressful, which is why you naturally want to protect your smile at all costs. That starts with a solid at-home oral hygiene routine and extends to biannual checkups and cleanings, but is there anything else you can do? Turns out, there is! Here are four things your dentist never puts in their mouth (and that you shouldn’t either).
1. Someone Else’s Toothbrush
If you’re away from home and don’t have a toothbrush, you might be tempted to use someone else’s, like your significant other. Don’t – the bristles are coated with food particles, bacteria, plaque, and other debris from their mouth! As a result, using it could lead to numerous consequences, from getting sick to developing tooth decay.
2. Hard Candies
Simply put, there are some foods that are smile-friendly, and hard candies are not one of them. There are two reasons for this. The first is that, if you suck on them until they dissolve, you are exposing your teeth to sugar for 15+ minutes at a time. The second is that, if you bite into them too soon, you can severely chip, crack, or fracture one of your teeth.
3. Car Keys
When your hands are full, you might be tempted to put your keys in your mouth – even if just for a few minutes. This is an unhealthy habit to get into because your keys have countless germs and bacteria, which shouldn’t be ingested. Plus, the sharp metal can easily chip a tooth! In short, it’s a good idea to avoid using your teeth as tools, whether it’s to hold your keys or open a bottle cap.
4. Fingernails
Current research estimates that between 20% and 30% of people bite their nails. Since this habit can result in small cracks as well as expose your mouth to the dirt, germs, and bacteria underneath your nails, it’s important that you take active measures to break it. If you’re having trouble, ask your dentist for recommendations – they may be able to help!
About the Author
Dr. Lauri Barge’s journey to becoming the top-rated Flower Mound dentist she is today began at the University of Texas at Arlington. After graduation, she pursued her dental doctorate at Texas A&M College of Dentistry as well as a General Practice Residency program at Olin E Teague VA Hospital. To this day, continuing education is important to her, which is why she has trained at the world-renowned Las Vegas Institute and maintained active memberships with professional organizations like the American Dental Association. If you have a question about your oral health or would like to schedule an appointment, visit her website or call (972) 539-3800.