Summary: Using your teeth as tools may seem harmless, but can lead to chipping, tooth loss, root canals and permanent damage.It sounds harmless; you don't have access to a can opener, scissors or any other sharp object to open a tricky bag of chips or a stubborn bottle top. So, you use your teeth. And why not? They get the job done. Not so fast. Even though the enamel on the top surface of your teeth is the hardest part of your whole entire body, using your teeth as a tool can do more harm than good. Habits like chomping on a pencil or using your teeth to rip off tags from your new clothes don't seem that life threatening; but the outside pressure can cause your teeth to chip, crack, and if the pressure is strong enough, break. Using your teeth as tools over time can lead to tooth separation and eventually braces. National spokesperson and Consumer Advisor for the American Dental Association, Dr. Richard Price, DMD, shares 25 things NOT to use your teeth for, as well as the importance of not using your teeth as a tool.
