Top 10 Foods That Can Damage Your Teeth
We all want to take good care of our teeth. However, we all have a favorite snack that we know isn’t so great for us. But how can those foods affect our teeth? Some foods are just not meant to get along with teeth and should be enjoyed in moderation in order to take the best care of our dental health. Some of the worst ingredients to avoid include:
- Sugars
- Carbohydrates
- Sticky foods
- Acids
Candy, popcorn, soda, potato chips… We all have a favorite junk food. However, sticking to a healthy diet not only has health benefits, but also great dental ones, too. If you’re trying to take good care of your teeth, avoid these top 10 foods that can damage your teeth:
- Soda. We all know how bad soda is to pretty much every aspect of our health. Dental health is no exception; carbonated drinks allow plaque to become more acidic, attacking the tooth enamel. They can also stain your teeth, making them not only dangerous internally but also cosmetically.
- Hard Candy. Hard and sour candies are also terrible for teeth. Sucking on hard candy for long periods of time means you are exposing your teeth to harmful sugars for even longer than usual, letting them saturate your teeth and giving bacteria a chance to create harmful acids. Chewing hard candy is also very dangerous: not only can you damage your enamel, you even run the risk of chipping a tooth.
- Sticky foods. Dried fruits, gummies, and other sticky treats tend to hand around in your mouth for far longer than many other types of foods. This means they have a longer chance of causing cavities.
- Alcohol. Consuming alcohol can lead to a dry mouth, which often means a slow in saliva production. Saliva is important to your dental health, and not having enough can lead to tooth decay and other oral infections.
- Bread. Bread is made of starches, which your saliva breaks down into sugars. When you chew bread, you mash it into a paste, which sticks between teeth can can lead to buildup and eventually problems if you don’t brush or floss thoroughly.
- Ice. Ice should be used only to cool drinks or other foods, and should never be chewed. It can damage your enamel and chipped or cracked teeth. Just because it is made of water and doesn’t have sugar does not mean it is good for your teeth!
- Coffee. If you regularly drink coffee, your dentist has likely commented on your discolouration before. Coffee on its own can be healthy, but most people add sugars and enjoy more than they probably should daily. Coffee can stain your teeth and added sugars can lead to cavities. If consumed too frequently, coffee can also be acidic, damaging the surfaces of your teeth and causing greater potential for oral health risks.
- Popcorn. Nothing is worse than getting a popcorn kernel stuck between your teeth, which promotes bacteria growth. Biting on an unpopped kernel can also be harmful to your teeth by damaging your enamel or even chipping your teeth.
- Citrus. Oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits, and other citrus fruits can be a great source of vitamin C. However, their high acidic levels make them dangerous to tooth enamel and they should only be eaten in moderation. It is better to eat high-acid foods in one sitting than to consume them over long periods of time, as well, such as sipping on a glass of water with lemon.
- Chips. Potato chips are one of the most popular snacks, but they are really bad for teeth. They are filled with starch, which is broken down into sugars and gets trapped in your teeth. If you don’t follow a bag of chips with a good floss, you may experience buildup and suffer further dental issues.
Staying on top of your daily brushing and flossing is the best way to combat many oral afflictions such as cavities, tooth decay, gingivitis, damaged enamel, and more. Even though these foods are potentially dangerous to your dental health long-term, don’t stress too much. It is best to avoid the foods that can have severe long-term impacts like soda, but as long as you practice healthy oral hygiene habits, you will be fine if you don’t eat a perfect diet.
