Everyone has done it at one time or another. You’re away from your scissors and you need something to cut with. Why not use your pearly whites?
The enamel on your teeth is one of the hardest substances in your body. But that doesn’t mean you should use it as your own personal Swiss Army knife. We’ve heard of people doing wild things with their teeth. This includes biting off price tags, ripping open containers, chomping off pieces of tape, or even opening bottles!
Your tooth enamel is a protective coating in place to protect the tools you need to eat food. While enamel may be tough, your teeth are not abuse-resistant. They can crack and break just like anything else. Tooth damage is painful, so don’t put your smile at risk by using your teeth as tools.
Be kind to your pearly whites! Here are some things you can do to protect your teeth from irreparable damage:
Teeth are not scissors, rock hammers, bottle openers, or even nail clippers. Chips and cracks on your teeth can be painful and may lead to permanent damage or even require them to be pulled. For some people, chewing on objects like pencils or fingernails is a hard-to-break habit. However, you can stop. It just takes patience and practice.