From the University Agenda

Be careful when eating nuts! Expert warns: You may lost your teeth

The number of patients who applied to dentists with the complaint of tooth lost while consuming nuts has increased. Damage to the teeth, especially during chewing, caused dentists to raise an alarm. Specialist Dentist Nur Çatalbaş said, “Although nuts are known as healthy snacks, they can have unexpected negative effects on dental health. In cases where the fracture is big, the tooth may need to be extracted."

Stating that nuts are quite healthy in terms of the nutrients they contain, Nur Çatalbaş, Specialist Dentist from Istanbul Gelisim University Dental Hospital, stated, "Especially hard nuts such as walnuts, hazelnuts and peanuts may carry risks that may cause teeth to break. Dentists say that such problems with teeth are mostly associated with teeth that have lost their durability. Especially teeth that have undergone root canal treatment, veneered or large fillings may increase the risk of fracture when chewed with hard nuts.”
Specialist Dentist Nur Çatalbaş listed some basic measures to prevent tooth fractures:

1. Protecting dental health: First of all, it is necessary to strengthen the teeth that have lost their health and endurance. Therefore, regular dental check-up should be given importance. In addition, if we have existing problems in our teeth, such as clenching or grinding teeth, we should talk with the dentist and get the necessary treatment.
2. Nutritional habits: Nutrients that are too harsh on our teeth, such as nuts and olive seeds, should be avoided. Chewing them may cause damage to the teeth.
3. Tooth protection methods: Habits such as clenching and grinding teeth can cause tooth fractures. In this case, using dental plaques is an important method of protection. If these plaques are not sufficient, advanced treatment methods should be evaluated.

1. Initial examination and X-ray: The dentist examines the fractured tooth and surrounding living tissues. If necessary, the internal structure of the tooth is evaluated by taking X-rays.
2. Treatment methods: Treatment methods vary depending on the size of the fracture. If the pulp tissue in the inner part of the tooth has not been exposed, treatment can only be possible with filling. However, if the tooth is fractured to the living tissue, canal treatment and then filling or coating applications may be required. In some cases, the tooth may need to be extracted if the fracture is too severe.