It’s vital to eat the meals you like, but you should consider the effects of what you consume on your body. Most people try to improve their appearance by dieting, yet few think about how they may affect their teeth by eating certain foods. The following are ten types of foods that you should try to avoid to maintain your dental health.
1) Soda and Carbonated Soft Drinks
Many people are aware that drinking soda is bad for their teeth. Even diet beverages, commonly thought to be safer, may be harmful if taken in large quantities. Drinks, including lemonade, soda, and sports drinks, provide a sugar bath for your teeth, causing tooth decay. All carbonated beverages have acids that can wear away at the enamel layer of your teeth.
If you plan on drinking soda, which most dentists do not recommend, drink it through a straw to prevent tooth decay in your front teeth. Secondly, don’t swirl the liquid around in your mouth—it’ll only increase damage to your teeth.
Many sports and energy drinks have high sugar levels, even though they might appear healthy. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, these can help young athletes during strenuous physical activity, but most people don’t need them. Next time you feel thirsty, check the label for low sugar content or that it’s mostly water.
2) Chewy and Hard Candy
Did you know that sticky candy is the worst kind for your teeth? Chewy candies, especially, tend to get stuck in-between teeth and can stay there for a long time. This allows bacteria in our mouths to feed on the sugar left behind by these tasty treats. Over time, this process of burning sugar causes acids that dissolve tooth enamel and results in cavities.
Not only do chewy, sugary, and acidic sweets have their erosive acid component, but they also generate extra acid through the sugar-bacteria interaction.
Hard candies, according to the ADA, should also be avoided. Although it dissolves more slowly than chewy candy, it does so gradually. It saturates your mouth for a more extended period, allowing germs to create harmful acid in more significant quantities. Also, biting down on hard sweets incorrectly can harm your teeth and cause irreversible tooth damage.
3) Pickles
Although pickles are a tasty snack, they can harm your teeth. This is because pickles are soaked in vinegar, which is acidic and can erode your tooth enamel. In addition, when pickles and chutneys are eaten regularly, they can lead to tooth decay. If you still want pickles, try eating them with other food that isn’t as acidic, such as cheese or salad. Finally, make sure to drink lots of water after finishing your meal to help prevent cavities.
4) Alcohol
It’s well-known that red wine stains teeth. However, the low pH levels and acidity caused by alcohol can also lead to cavities in the long run. When consuming alcohol, eat something with a higher pH level to help balance out the acidity. Cheese and wine are excellent complements since they taste great together, and the cheese helps neutralize acidity in your mouth.
5) Bread, Crackers, and Chips
Carbohydrates in refined, bread-based products can damage your teeth because they are converted into sugars by the enzyme amylase in saliva. When you eat carbohydrates, they are broken down into sugar, which coats your teeth and causes decay. Whole-grain bread and crackers are much better choices for healthy teeth.
6) Citrus fruits
Citrus fruits are acidic but also high in nutrients, so they should not be avoided altogether. Just keep in mind that foods high in sugar can harm tooth enamel, and grapefruit has an extremely high pH level, which might erode the surface of your teeth. If this happens frequently enough, plaque build-up or cavities may occur due to the frequent consumption of grapefruit or anything containing lemon juice after brushing your teeth.
7) Dried Fruits
Many individuals believe that dried fruits are nutritious, but they can be sticky and adhere to your teeth. Sugar forms plaque when eaten in this form, so it is a good idea to rinse your mouth with water after eating dry fruits. Instead of dried fruit, choose fresh fruit instead. If you must eat dried fruit, do so in moderation and always brush your teeth afterward.
8) Peanuts and Almonds
Nuts such as peanuts and almonds can be hard on the tooth’s exterior and cause tiny fractures (microcracks). Nuts, especially when cold, can splinter and fracture teeth. Eating nuts in modest quantities at room temperature is ideal and chew them slowly and carefully.
9) Carrots
While most people believe that carrots are healthy for you, few people know that chilled baby carrots are one of the leading causes of broken teeth. If you have dental issues, chew your carrots slowly and at room temperature to minimize tooth wear.
10) Ice
Even though chewing on ice after consuming a cold drink may seem harmless, it can cause chipped or fractured teeth. It’s best if you avoid chewing anything other than food. Ice is notorious for producing microcracks in teeth and making them invisible to the naked eye, leading to more significant fractures later.