The foods you eat affect more than just your waistline. By eating certain foods, you can promote good oral health and prevent cavities and gum disease. Conversely, some foods can cause oral health problems, such as tooth decay and gum disease. Here are some foods that can harm our oral health and smile.
Sugary foods
These are the worst foods for your oral health because of the amount of sugar they include. When you eat food containing sugars or starches, the bacteria in your mouth are able to feed on the debris left behind. This produces an acid that attacks your teeth and gums and can eventually lead to tooth decay and cavities!
Hard candy
What makes hard candy bad for your teeth? It’s sticky! Unlike gummy candies that dissolve fairly quickly when you chew them, hard candies stick to your teeth and gums for a long time. Imagine a piece of your favorite hard candy being in your mouth for minutes on end. This doesn’t do your mouth any favors. In fact, it promotes tooth decay if the sugar from the candy is not washed away by saliva, which washes away bacteria as well. If you must eat a hard piece of candy, especially one containing sugar, then make sure you wash it down with a glass of water to wash away the sugars and acids that are left behind.
Eating hard candies is also bad for your jaw because it requires a lot of chewing and can irritate the gums and other soft tissues of your mouth. Hard candies also conduct more heat than soft candies, and this can burn your sensitive oral tissues. In addition to causing difficulty when eating, hard candies can also break or damage the brackets of your braces. So it’s best to avoid hard candies altogether while you are wearing braces.
Soft drinks
Soft drinks are terrible for your oral health for a few reasons. The first is that they contain a high amount of acid and sugar, which eats away at your enamel. The citric acid in soft drinks also affects how your gums react to bacteria and germs. If you’re drinking soda often, you may notice that your gum line will begin to recede or pull away from your teeth. This type of receding gums can lead to gum disease and further tooth loss.
The second reason is because of the carbonation in these drinks. It’s extremely bad for the teeth because as it dissolves, it leaves tiny holes along the surface of the teeth, which can cause erosion and wear down of tooth enamel. Over time these holes can add up to tooth decay and even root canals. To avoid this type of damage, you should drink soda in moderation and avoid sipping on it throughout the day. Instead, you can drink it all at once and afterward rinse your mouth out with water to help wash away the residue from the sodas.
Coffee and tea
Most coffee lovers don’t realize that green and black teas are actually more damaging to oral health than coffee. Tannic acid in black tea, as well as tannins in the plant itself, can stain your teeth. What’s worse is that coffee and tea are often consumed with sugar.
If you can’t completely avoid coffee and tea, try to limit the number of coffee and tea you consume. Also, limit the amount of sugar and artificial sweeteners you consume with them. Drink them through straws to reduce your exposure to teeth. Water should always be your first choice for hydration because it encourages saliva production.
If you’re looking for an experienced and professional dentist, you’ve come to the right place. We offer a variety of dental services, including preventative dentistry, emergency dentistry, cosmetic procedures, and more. We are committed to helping their patients have healthy mouths and beautiful smiles. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!
