TOOTH HAZARDS: Bruxism, Bones & Chewing Gum

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With some cautious prevention, your teeth can last for years on end. And that doesn’t just mean brushing your teeth, either. For greatest dental health, you need to be mindful of what hazards can impact your oral health and how you can foil them. Here are a few things you can be aware of to save your teeth safe from injury:

Clenching or grinding teeth. Were you aware that you could be clenching your pearly whites while you sleep? It’s a condition known as bruxism, and if you’re waking up with sore teeth and/or a sore jaw, you could have it. Speak with us about night guards on your next appointment, and we can help you fix this problem that negatively affects your sleep and your teeth.

Not filtering out bones from food. While eating away on tough foods is one thing, sorting out bones (and rocks) from food is another. If you bite down into something with full force thinking that it’s soft when it’s not, you’re much more prone to break a tooth. Take some minutes to filter through your food to ensure there are no hard surprises waiting within.

Chewing gum for too long. Can chewing gum for too long really destroy your pearly whites? Actually, it’s possible, and we’ve seen it enough to recognize that it’s a real risk. As gum is chewed for long lengths of time, it begins to lose its pliability — you’ve likely noticed that gum chewed for sixty minutes is much harder than a fresh stick. Don’t risk your dental health by continuing to chew on gum you’ve chewed for an hour or more; spit it out and use a fresh piece if you need to continue chewing.

Prevention is the greatest medicine, but accidents do happen. If you’ve suffered an injury to your oral cavity or chompers, we’re here to help. Call our Lexington, Kentucky, teeth office at 859-232-8883 now to schedule your next appointment with Dr. Dickson Ufomata and our staff.