Healthy teeth are essential for a good lifestyle. Great-looking teeth, gums, and breath make you attractive. Also, good oral hygiene prevents diseases and infections.
Are you aware that some foods can harm your dental health? It’s important to know which foods and drinks might be causing damage. Keep an eye out for these unexpected items that could be harming your teeth.
Ice
Eating ice may seem harmless enough, but it can have serious consequences for your teeth. Ice is made up of very hard and rigid particles, which can cause enamel erosion and other damage to the teeth if they are consumed in large quantities. Additionally, consuming large amounts of ice can lead to an increased risk of cavities and gum disease. To keep your teeth healthy, it is best to limit the amount of ice you consume each day, and make sure to learn more on the subject to protect your teeth.
Sugary Foods
We all know sugary snacks can cause tooth decay. But many don’t realize how dangerous they really are! Refined white sugar deposits glucose onto the enamel, which is broken down into acid by bacteria in the mouth. To keep teeth safe, limit sugary snacks to mealtimes or just once a day.
Surprisingly, there are many foods with hidden sugars. Breakfast cereals and milk, dried fruit sticks, and drinks like juice, lemonade, and sports drinks all contain added sugars.
It’s important for anyone with cavities or teeth sensitivities to check food and beverage labels and ingredient lists. Regular dentist visits are also a must. These simple steps can help reduce sugar-related tooth decay in between:
- Limit sugary snacks to mealtimes or just once a day.
- Check food and beverage labels and ingredient lists.
- Visit the dentist regularly.
Sticky Foods
Sticky foods, like dried fruits and candy, can be harmful to your teeth if not cleaned off fast and properly. These clingy substances can stick to your teeth and gums, making them harder to clean and causing bacterial growth. For example, caramel or taffy will seep into the cracks of your teeth and gums, making it difficult to brush away bacteria. The bacteria produced from these candies can make you more likely to get cavities. Also, sticky foods often have added sugar which can make tooth decay when coming in contact with acid-producing bacteria in the mouth.
To lessen the chances of sticky foods damaging your teeth, rinse your mouth after eating them and brush your teeth twice a day. Also, try to avoid too sugary snacks to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
Acidic Foods
Foods with a pH below 5.5, like soft drinks and certain fruit juices, can cause lots of damage to your teeth. Acid weakens tooth enamel and can lead to decay. They can cause enamel erosion, which can lead to tooth decay, sensitivity, and other dental issues. Eating acidic foods on a regular basis can also increase the chances of developing cavities. So, it’s best to limit these types of foods.
To protect your teeth from acid damage, you should:
- Brush twice a day
- Rinse with neutral or alkaline water after eating acidic food
- Eating non-acidic snacks between meals can also help. They coat the enamel, protect it from damage, and reduce the risk of cavities and dental erosion.
Hard Foods
Hard food items such as candy, nutshells, and certain fruits can damage tooth enamel. Even if you have the best oral hygiene and visit the dentist often, these foods increase the risk of cavities.
Hard food items can contain particles too big for your teeth to break down. Plus, they can be dried or sticky, making it easier for them to linger on teeth and cause more harm, even after brushing.
Dangerous hard foods include:
- Dried fruits
- Nut butter
- Caramel chews
- Candy apples
- Raw veggies like celery stalks and carrots
- Popcorn kernels
- Nutshells
Drinks
Sugary drinks like sodas, energy drinks, and sweet teas can erode enamel. But, drinking them occasionally won’t do too much damage. Coffee and tea tannins interact with plaque acid to discolor teeth. Too much coffee/tea can harm enamel.
Fruit juices contain citric acid which erodes enamel, so limit them or cut them with water.
Alcohol causes dry mouth, raising the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Water should be consumed when drinking alcohol to rehydrate the mouth and wash away cavity-causing bacteria.
Prevention and Treatment
To keep teeth and gums healthy, habits like brushing twice daily and flossing once daily should be practiced. Other preventive measures include controlling diet, limiting acidic foods, visiting the dentist regularly, using fluoride toothpaste, and avoiding tobacco products.
Treatment depends on severity. Minor issues, like sensitivity and cavities, may need fillings, protective measures, or fluoride treatments. More serious problems may require Inlays & Onlays, Implants, Crown & Bridges, Oral Surgery, or Root Canals.
Practicing good oral hygiene at any age helps keep teeth healthy for life. Ask your dentist questions about protecting your teeth. Knowing bad foods and how to brush properly can save money in the long run.
Not Brushing Frequently Enough
Not brushing your teeth regularly is an often overlooked threat to your dental health. Plaque and bacteria start to accumulate on the surface of your teeth and gums, leading to tooth decay and gum disease. These can cause major problems in the short term such as cavities, tooth sensitivity, and gum inflammation, but can also lead to long-term damage such as periodontal disease and tooth loss.
It’s important to make sure you are brushing regularly so that plaque doesn’t have time to build up. Ideally, you should be brushing twice a day for two minutes with a soft-bristled brush – once after breakfast, before going to bed at night. You should also floss daily – this helps get rid of food particles from between your teeth that may have been left behind by your toothbrush.
Conclusion
Your oral health is important! Be aware of what you eat and how you eat. Sugary and acidic foods cause tooth decay. Stickiness and crunchiness can cause gum disease, tooth loss, and erosion of enamel.
Drink water to help clean your mouth and reduce sugar in your teeth. Brush with fluoride twice daily and floss once a day. Regular visits to the dentist are necessary for good hygiene. If you have any concerns, talk to your dentist.
