The Eight Worst Foods for Your Teeth
While it may seem natural that certain foods and beverages are not good for your teeth, like candies and soda, other less obvious options can also harm your oral health. Although some suggest avoiding these foods completely, dentists suggest consuming them in moderation and maintaining oral hygiene. Here are eight foods and drinks dentists try to limit.
IceWhile it is fine to add ice to your drink, ensure that you do not chew on it. Avoid anything that can result in trauma to your teeth, such as chewing on ice as it can fracture enamel.
Sports Drinks
When it comes to sports and energy drinks, it is all about how frequently you drink them. If you are drinking these every day, you are more likely to develop cavities as these are acidic — and often contain high amounts of sugar. If you have to consume these drinks, do so in moderation.
Sour Gummies
The sour flavour of these candies is given by adding copious amounts of acid to them. The sugary coating of the candy damages the enamel. On the other hand, the gummy nature makes it stick on your teeth longer. Dried fruits also fall in the harmful category, so it is best to limit sour gummy consumption.
Flavoured Coffee Creamers
Unsweetened beverages like tea or coffee are healthy. But when syrup, sugar, or flavoured creamers are added to it, this becomes an unhealthy drink as it can damage the teeth. If you cannot avoid drinking sweetened tea or coffee, rinse your mouth with water.
Alcohol
An occasional bottle of beer or a glass of wine is no problem, but frequent alcohol consumption can make your mouth dry. When the mouth becomes dry, over time saliva flow reduces. Besides, dry mouth puts a person at a higher risk of cavities and gum diseases. Excess alcohol consumption is also linked to oral cancer.
Popcorn
What is harmful about popcorn are the kernels that do not pop. Chewing on them can even break a tooth. It is better to let the unpopped kernels remain in the bucket to avoid dental emergencies.
Lemons
Squeezing fresh lemon in a glass of water or club soda is doable. You must avoid sucking on the lemon as any citrus food is not good for the tooth enamel.
Protein Bars
Protein bars have a high amount of sugar in them. You can avoid protein bars as you can get proteins from other, better sources. If you cannot resist a protein bar, try washing your mouth, drinking plenty of water, or chewing sugar-free gum after eating one. These may help get rid of excess sugar from the teeth.
Bread
Think twice when you are in the bread aisle of the supermarket. When chewing the bread, the saliva inside your mouth breaks down starches. These then get transformed into sugar. The transformed, gummy paste-like substance sticks to the crevices in between teeth and can also result in cavities. When you crave some carbs, try to opt for the less-refined kind like whole wheat. The quantity of added sugar in them is less.
For more information regarding your dental health, please give Dr. Apsey of Smile Brightly Dental a call today! We are located in Warren, MI and we can be reached at 586-573-7700!
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