Foods That Are Hard Enough to Crack Your Teeth

Have you ever bitten down so hard on a piece of food that you were worried you might crack a tooth?

If it’s never actually happened, count your lucky stars. Many everyday foods are hard enough to fracture teeth under the right circumstances. Keep reading to learn which foods are the most common culprits and what you can do to protect your smile from their effects.

Obvious Hazards

It’s easy to see why some foods might break teeth. Avoid these hard foods to keep your pearly whites in one piece.

• Nuts. Hard nuts like almonds and pistachios take some force to crack and eat. Bite down too hard, though, and you might crack your tooth instead.
• Raw vegetables. You know how some people will pick up a full raw carrot and bite into it like Bugs Bunny? Don’t do that. Raw vegetables like carrots and celery are harder than you think – especially large ones. Cut them up with a knife or choose smaller versions like baby carrots instead.
• Apples. Similar to raw veggies, apples can be surprisingly hard to sink your teeth into. Trying to bite off a chunk of one could leak to a crack or break – especially on a front tooth that has already been weakened with a filling or two.
• Jerky. Jerky is hard and chewy, and many people try to tear off pieces of it with their teeth. This sideways motion puts even more strain on the affected teeth, making them more likely to break.
• Crusty bread. Crusty breads like baguettes, bagels, and ciabatta pose similar problems to jerky. If you want to enjoy some, cut it into thin slices and chew them carefully instead of trying to bite off large chunks.
• Protein bars. Some protein bars have hard nuts or thick stripes of caramel that can be surprisingly difficult to bite through. Freezing them makes this even worse, so eat yours at room temperature whenever you can.
• Ice cubes. Sucking on ice cubes is fine, but don’t try to crunch them. Ice is notorious for breaking teeth.

Sweets and Treats

Some sweets do more than cause cavities. Take care when eating these treacherous treats.

• Popsicles. Similar to ice cubes, some popsicles are hard enough to break teeth. This is especially true when they’re fresh from the freezer.
• Nut brittle. Nut brittles combine the dangers of nuts and hard candy to create the ultimate tooth-breaking treat. Avoid eating these candies as much as possible. If you can’t live without them, choose thinner pieces that will break more easily and suck on them for a while to break up some of the hard sugar.
• Hard candies. Sucking on hard candies is awful for your teeth, but biting into them is even worse. Even thin ones like lollipops are hard enough to break a tooth.
• Biscotti. Biscotti’s satisfying crunch is one of the things people love most about the treat, but crunching it too enthusiastically can be dangerous for your teeth. Dunk yours in some coffee or tea to soften it up before attempting to chew it.

Hidden Dangers

These foods are the most insidious of all tooth-crackers. Don’t let them catch you off guard.

• Bones. Ribs, chicken wings, fried chicken, and fish can all contain tiny bones you might not spot right away. If you accidentally bite down on one, you could easily crack or break a tooth.
• Cherry and olive pits. Because olives and cherries are bite-sized with small pits, it’s easy to break a tooth on those pits even if you’re being careful. Modern olive pitters work on both olives and cherries, and we recommend using them before eating either of these foods.
• Unpopped popcorn kernels. These are particularly dangerous, lurking under piles of fluffy white popped kernels that most people crunch down on mindlessly. It only takes one wayward hard kernel to crack a molar.

We Treat Cracked and Broken Teeth

These tips should help you avoid breaking a tooth while eating, but what if it’s already too late? That’s when it’s time to get the professionals involved.

Call Coscarella Family Dentistry today to book an appointment for your cracked or broken tooth. By the time we’re done treating you, your smile will be as good as new.