Not a Tool of the Trade

This week provides us with a couple of interesting days…Beer Can Appreciation Day & Peanut Brittle Day.  Over the years, we have dealt with many teeth issues involving both beer cans & peanut brittle—both of which cause similar teeth problems, but since today is actually Beer Can Appreciation Day, we thought we would take the opportunity to discuss some of these teeth issues.

Beer Can Appreciation day began in 1935 to celebrate the day the 1^st beer was sold in a can.  Beer can collectors from all over the world use this day to show off their assortment of beer cans.  Beer can collectors must also be beer enthusiasts because these cans are not unopened.  In order to preserve the integrity of the can, the beer collector carefully opens the can from the bottom, empties the contents (…into his/her mouth presumably), then keeps the can.  For those of you that are not beer can collectors, and are a little less cautious when opening your beer, we offer a bit of caution …don’t use your teeth!

For some reason, people think of their teeth as tools!  Some of our patients have used their teeth as bottle openers, scissors, flashlight holders, ice picks…and the list goes on.  All it takes is one faulty move to break or damage a tooth, both of which bring about a great deal of pain and expense.  A good rule of thumb is this—if it’s not food or drink, it doesn’t belong in your mouth (with the exception of floss & a toothbrush, of course).

So if you are a beer enthusiast, go find a great can of beer.  If you are a beer can collector, show off your collection.  Just remember, your teeth are only tools when chewing—food that is.