Brian Warns Of Tooth Breakers

There are few things in this world more precious and contagious as a smile. You can light up a room and change everyone's mood if you flash one their way, which is why it is so important to keep those teeth in good shape. The Boston University School of Dental Medicine has listed the ten items that are brutal on those teeth and it turns out I am guilty of most of these. Here are the Top Ten Teeth Breakers:

• Ice Cubes-I love chewing on a cup of ice. The ice at Sonic is favorite, little rabbit pooh sized nuggets of refreshment. Mmmmm

• Frozen candy bars- "If you need a hammer to break it don't use your teeth for the job" they say. I say "no pain, no gain". Bring on the frozen Snicker! I am not scared.

• Crack nuts-I guess that little pistachio that is peeking out at me from a small slit in it's shell is not worth risking a tooth to get to but I feel it is my civic duty to release him.

• Opening the lids on pill bottles-I have found a hammer much more effective than the teeth on these so I am safe on this one.

• Loosen knots-I have chewed more Nike shoes than a dog. I always end up with my laces in knots and my teeth are like Houdini on them. I have extended the life of my teeth by always wearing my cowboy boots now.

• Opening chip or pretzel bags-I reccommend scissors...but don't run with them

• Chewing on pens-This actually disgusts me. We once had a serial pen chewer at work and every time you picked up a pen slobber would drip out of it. Disgusting. Pens are for writing not nibbling.

• Chewing on pencils-See above

• Chewing on hard candy-I am not a patient person so waiting to suck a Jolly Rancher until it evaporates is not possible for me. I bite after a few seconds and usually stick my teeth together in the candy and need the jaws of life to pry my teeth apart after. I will stick with pudding, safer snack.

• Tightening guitar strings-Really?!? Don't eat your guitar? I guess I didn't know this was happening.

These are all good things to avoid but as you can see I struggle with some of them and have one missing tooth from a frozen candy bar accident to show for it. I do think they missed the number one thing to avoid to keep from breaking your teeth though...mouthing off to someone bigger than you is still the biggest threat to your teeth.