soo, I was picking my parents up from work the other day and left the engine idling while i waited for them.

When it was time to depart, I forgot the engine was on, and turned the key to start it! bad idea! The car made a very loud high pitched metal-on-metal sound, and I immediately realized what happened, and turned the car off and back on to make sure it still starts.

Do you think I may have damaged the starter or broken some teeth off the cogs? It starts fine, but I'm worried I may have shaved some life of both of those components.

What do you think?

 

Its not a big deal, people do it all the time. It is unlikely you did any permanent damage from this, the teeth are very robust and take quite a lot to break off.
This is one of those mistakes you only make once

 

Thanks zero10. I wanted to hear it from someone more knowledgeable then me! I would hate to be stranded in the cold somewhere because the starter died

Happy Holiday!