The Lowdown On Chewy Foods: Beware!
Yes, there is something to be said for the fun that occurs when you indulge in chewy foods. They take longer to eat, they are often delicious and sweet, and they just might be something you love to consume! However, though they’re not all culprits in causing oral health problems, most items that are super-chewy may pose a high risk for your otherwise perfectly safe and healthy smile. Let our Cleveland, TX team talk over some important points with you in terms of the chewy factor and what to watch out for, so you don’t end up damaging that lovely smile!
Protecting Your Jaw Health
When you eat super chewy foods, you know the drill: You take a bite and then let the chewing begin! The food doesn’t just quickly dissolve between your teeth before you swallow it. Instead, you open and close your teeth over and over, slowly breaking down the chewy food, as your saliva flows and you can sometimes feel the slightest bit of strain or burn in your jaw joints until you’re finally through. Unfortunately, this is bad news for your jaw joints (called your TMJs) and, as a result, for your oral health. You think they’re all powerful but they are actually vulnerable to becoming overworked and damaged. Don’t let this happen to you! Instead, limit the chewy foods. You’ll be happy you did.
Protecting Your Dental Work
Now, let’s talk about what chewy foods can mean for any dental work you may have in place. Think braces, dental crowns, dental fillings, bridges, and more! The chewy food is resistant and takes a while to thoroughly break down. If it’s chewy and sticky, then it keeps sticking to your teeth as you chew. This doesn’t bode well for dental work. You may end up with damaged or dislodged or even broken work! Be careful if this applies to you.
The Details On Chewing Gum
Yes, we’ve talked about chewy foods. However, you ask: What about chewing gum? One one hand, this falls under the same general concept as chewy foods because of the aforementioned details about overworking your jaw joints and potentially damaging your dental work. However, we would like to add that chewing gum (even if it’s sugarless, which can be beneficial for your oral health) is simply something to carefully consider. If you are someone dealing with bruxism or jaw joint issues, it tends to exacerbate the problem. Otherwise, it may be perfectly safe for a healthy smile! The best way to know for sure? Ask our friendly team the next time we see you!
Protect Teeth And Jaws With Our Care
While chewy snacks can be quite delicious, there’s nothing so yummy that is worth damaging your jaw joints or your teeth! For helpful advice that will guide your grin in the right direction, take time for a dental visit! Call our Cleveland Family Dentistry office in Cleveland, TX, today at (281) 592-1234. We proudly serve patients and their families from Cleveland and all surrounding communities.