For tooth protection ... Avoid poppycock and other
malarkey.
Robert B. Stevenson, DDS, MS
Last week my mother called for an emergency dental appointment,
she just chipped a front tooth while eating bridge candy. I saw her right away
and restored it. Three days later, the brand new filling broke.
"I was eating poppycock," she explained, while I
searched through my appointment book for another open slot.
Let's talk about this for a minute.
Poppycock is similar to caramel corn & peanut mix, but
more like chewing rocks. Other hard candy and snack foods which might damage
teeth include peanut brittle, jaw breakers, and Martha Stewart's notorious
homemade (overcooked) granola bars.
Breaking a front tooth can be embarrassing, if not painful, and can cause an
inconvenient, last-minute change in plans or schedule. Depending when and where
it happens, a dentist might be difficult to find. Children's teeth always seem
to get broken right before a big family vacation or trip.
Biting into hard food is a gamble, like sticking an arm down a dark hole in the
ground or into a hollow tree. Who knows what will happen? Inside the hole might
be splinters, rusty nails, broken glass, snakes, or a beehive. Why take a
chance?
True, there are some people who chew hard candy all the time and never break any
teeth. Likewise, some tobacco smokers live to be 100+ years old. But just
because one person gets away with chewing ice cubes many times --doesn't mean
their luck will never run out. "Quit while you're ahead" is often good
advice for gamblers.
Instead of biting into hard foods, use a knife and fork. Slice tough meat into
thin little pieces, and then enjoy chewing them. Be careful eating frozen
desserts, go easy on popcorn, check twice for fishbones, remove buckshot from
cooked wild game, de-kabob skewers before eating, and always be on the lookout
for many other possible hardluck food surprises.
Avoid unnecessary wear and tear on front teeth, especially with dentures or
bridgework. When digging a small hole in the ground, use a small shovel, not the
family heirloom silver soup ladle. Use the right tool for the right job. Teeth
are valuable and often expensive to repair or replace.
Regarding other malarkey, "rap caps" are hollow gold shell teeth found
in novelty shops, and are popular with teenagers. Rap caps look like gold crowns
worn on front teeth, and some have little stars or crosses or colorful jewels.
The caps fit over real teeth and are supposed to come on and off, like costume
jewelry. No problem, so far.
Unfortunately, some misguided youths try ordinary glue to make these
store-bought rap caps "permanent." Sooner or later the glue dissolves
and washes out, and then the tooth underneath gets a cavity and decays. If not
treated by a dentist, decay can spread until the rap cap finally breaks off. All
that's left is the root stub, and a face looking like MAD magazine's Alfred E.
Numan.
People who want gold or special crowns on their front teeth should see a dentist
in the first place. In the long run it's cheaper and less painful. Cosmetic
dental crowns can be made with various designs, including stars and gems, and
most dentists can explain the options. If unique or unusual requests cannot be
handled by a local dental laboratory, other dental labs
around the country are available.
People wearing removable dentures, bridges or partials should
hold on to any old ones that might still be wearable, stored in water. If none,
consider having an extra denture made just in case. Something like the little
temporary spare tires that come with some cars, for short-term use.
Having a spare denture close by helps avoid the need for sudden emergency trips
to the dentist. Back-up dentures should be taken along whenever traveling. Who
wants to look for an emergency dental office while on the road? And like an
umbrella, it never seems to rain when you have one.
Keep removable dentures, orthodontic retainers, sports mouth guards, etc., away
from pets, especially dogs. Something about dental appliances seems to attract
dogs like a soupbone or fresh meat, and they love to chew on them. Keep dogs on
a leash around false teeth.
Front teeth are important for smiling and talking and eating, so take good care
of them. Be careful not to bite off more than you can chew. OK, Mom?
Robert B. Stevenson, DDS, MS
3600 Olentangy River Rd
Columbus OH 43214
office 614-451-2767
fax 614-451-2988
OhioHealth provider # 205786
http://www.dent.ohio-state.edu/restendopros/Bios/stevensonbio.htm