I’m a cosmetic dentist – here’s why you should never open packets with your teeth

A dentist has shared three things to avoid doing to your teeth to avoid lasting damage. 

Dr Shahira Saad, a cosmetic dentist in California, posted a video in August as part of her series, ‘Things You Should Never Do to Your Teeth.’ 

‘You can trust me; I’m a cosmetic dentist,’ she said in the TikTok video, which has nearly eight million views.

She warned that trendy charcoal toothpaste can scrap away enamel, causing teeth to gradually start turning yellow. 

And using your teeth to open bottles or rip open a bag could cause cracks that are expensive to repair.

Finally, chewing on ice may be satisfying, but Dr Saad warned it could be a sign of chronic diseases like anemia. 

Here are the three practices Dr Saad recommends avoiding: 

Charcoal toothpaste 

Toothpaste made from activated charcoal has become increasingly popular over the last few years. Proponents claim it can whiten teeth, remove superficial stains, eliminate plaque, and freshen breath. 

However, Dr Saad said the opposite is true. ‘You should not be using charcoal toothpaste,’ she said.

‘Charcoal is way too abrasive and actually scrubs away the top layer of your enamel. Over time, this can lead to yellowing of your smile by exposing the underlying tooth structure called dentin.’

Enamel is the protective outer covering of teeth and is considered the hardest substance in the body. Dentin is a layer located directly underneath the enamel. When dentin is exposed to abrasive substances like charcoal toothpaste, teeth become sensitive.

A growing body of research suggests that charcoal toothpaste may cause more harm than good. 

A 2017 study found that due to its abrasiveness, activated charcoal could harm tooth enamel when used for too long or too aggressively. 

Additionally, a 2019 review in the British Dental Journal found that charcoal does little to protect against tooth decay. 

And a 2021 study compared the whitening effects of charcoal toothpaste and fluoride and found no difference. 

Using your teeth as tools

It’s easy to use your teeth to open a bottle or rip open an envelope when you don’t have the proper tool on hand. 

However, this could cause damage that’s expensive and painful to repair.  

‘This can cause you to crack your teeth in an unfavorable way, leading to the need for a crown, root canal, or even an extraction,’ Dr Saad said. 

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that helps restore a tooth that has become decayed, broken, or weak. According to Cleveland Clinic, they can be made from metal, porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM), porcelain, or ceramic. 

Root canal treatments are designed to eliminate bacteria from the infected root canal, which prevents additional infection.

More than 41,000 root canals are performed in the US every day, according to the American Association of Endodontists. 

But if these procedures can’t save the tooth, you may have to have it removed entirely and replaced with an implant. 

Chewing ice

Chewing ice is a common habit, but Dr Saad said that it could be a sign of certain medical issues.  

‘The ASMR may be appealing, but you should not be chewing ice,’ she said. ‘If you’re craving chewing ice, this is called pica and might be a sign that you have low iron.’

Pica is a condition where a person has cravings to chew non-food items like ice, paint chips, and rocks. 

It most commonly affects young children, pregnant women, or people with certain conditions like autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disabilities. 

Pica can also be a sign of iron-deficiency anemia, which occurs when the body doesn’t have enough iron to make hemoglobin, a substance in red blood cells that helps them carry oxygen throughout the body. 

Common symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia, according to the Cleveland Clinic, include fatigue, chills, shortness of breath, weakness, chest pain, dizziness, bruises, and headaches. 

Munching on ice can also wear away enamel and lead to cracks.