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Are you biting off more than you can chew?
In our fast-paced lives, many of us may be eating in a hurry,taking giant
bites of our food to get done quickly and on to the next task. Fast-food
restaurants advertise giant burgers and sandwiches as a selling point, but
often those super-sized delicacies are larger than a human mouth.
Taking bites that are too big to chew could be bad for your jaw and teeth,
says the Academy of General Dentistry, an organization of general dentists
dedicated to continuing education.
At particular risk are people with temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD),
which can restrict the range of acceptable bite size. "People with TMD need
to avoid opening their mouths too wide," says Barbara A. Rich, DDS, FAGD,
spokesperson for the Academy. "Taking large bites of food can aggravate
their condition." So, smoosh that hoagie before taking a bite.
Dr. Rich also cautions against biting into hard candies, which can chip
teeth. Even apples can cause problems. "If you need to open your mouth more
than feels comfortable to take a bite, then you should cut the item into
smaller portions that are easy to chew." Dr. Rich says.
Smaller bites also mean less likelihood of choking. People should always
avoid chewing ice, popcorn kernels, and opening nuts with their teeth.
It leads to chipping and breakage of natural teeth and restorations.
- Source: Academy of General Dentistry.
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