{"id":10,"date":"2026-03-02T22:26:50","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T22:26:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.riatadentalcare.com\/blog\/?p=10"},"modified":"2026-04-05T17:50:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T17:50:14","slug":"four-things-you-shouldnt-put-in-your-mouth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.riatadentalcare.com\/blog\/four-things-you-shouldnt-put-in-your-mouth\/","title":{"rendered":"Guard That Grin: 4 Things You Shouldn\u2019t Put in Your Mouth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When it comes to taking care of your smile, you might want to do your best in ensuring it stays in great shape. Brushing and flossing help do this, but you should also do your part in making sure you don’t develop any chips or cracks. Damage can happen from things like hard foods, but certain oral habits can increase your risk of it. Here are four things to avoid putting in your mouth to prevent a visit to your emergency dentist<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

1.)  Ice Cubes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After you finish a drink, do you tend to chew on the ice left over? It might seem innocent, but it can cause hairline cracks throughout your enamel. These can then turn into a fractured tooth if you aren\u2019t careful! This also goes for any restorations, as they can\u2019t handle the pressure. Simply let them melt in your mouth or use less of them to reduce how often you do this habit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.)  Your Fingernails<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you get nervous, you might gnaw at your fingernails subconsciously. While your teeth can get through them, they are made of keratin, which is tough against these dental structures. The bite force needed can lead to increased wear and tear or sensitivity. A great way you can stop doing this is by having a fidget toy handy to relieve your anxiety or stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.)  Bottle Caps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You might think of using your grin to open the cap of a bottle. Whether it’s metal or plastic, you risk straining your jaw. The grip you get with your smile can make the muscles in your face sore, but it can also lead to problems if you aren’t careful. Not only that, but you risk developing a major chip as well. Simply ask for help or find a bottle opener.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4.)  Pencils or Pen Caps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As you are writing something down, you might start to chew the end of your pencil or pen. While this may just be a reaction to you being deep in thought, it’s still tough on your teeth. You risk wearing down your teeth faster than normal the more you do it. Have sugar-free gum handy as something to munch on instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the end, do your best to break the habits above if you have them. It might seem like a small feat, but it can have a big impact in making sure your smile stays in great shape. That way, you can keep it strong and avoid rushing to your emergency dentist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Barry Uldrikson<\/a> earned his dental degree from the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry. He has over 45 years of experience that he uses to give the Kingman community the high-quality care they deserve, especially during dental emergencies. By offering same-day urgent visits, Dr. Uldrikson can oftentimes see you the same day to get you the relief you deserve from your situation. If you want to do your part in protecting your grin, schedule an appointment<\/a> or call his office at (928) 692-9394.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When it comes to taking care of your smile, you might want to do your best in ensuring it stays in great shape. Brushing and flossing help do this, but you should also do your part in making sure you don’t develop any chips or cracks. Damage can happen from things like hard foods, but certain oral habits can increase your risk of it. Here are four things to avoid putting in your mouth to prevent a visit to your emergency dentist. (Read More)<\/a>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nGuard That Grin: 4 Things You Shouldn\u2019t Put in Your Mouth - Riata Dental Care Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you are looking to protect your smile from harm, then you should avoid putting these four things in your mouth.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.riatadentalcare.com\/blog\/four-things-you-shouldnt-put-in-your-mouth\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Guard That Grin: 4 Things You Shouldn\u2019t Put in Your Mouth - 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