5 Foods That Are Bad for Your Teeth
A staggering one in three Australians has untreated tooth decay. Even with proper hygiene habits, your diet could be a leading cause of tooth decay and even gum disease.
Are you aware of the foods that are bad for your teeth? In this article, we’ll review the top offenders when it comes to teeth-damaging foods and drinks so you can cut back on these harmful foods.
Avoid These Foods That Are Bad for Your Teeth
You might think this list will include soft drinks and ice. We assume our sharp patients already know that those items can harm your teeth. Some of the worst foods for teeth might surprise you.
Corn
Corn itself isn’t particularly bad for your teeth. Eating it off the cob can dislodge fillings, especially if your teeth are weak. Popcorn kernels may have unpopped or hard corn kernels in the mix, these can badly fracture teeth if accidentally bitten, always check before eating.
Consider cutting off the kernels instead of chewing on the cob. Remember to floss after eating corn to remove bits of corn that become stuck between your teeth: this includes small thin shells from popcorn that may get lodged on the gums and cause discomfort. Leaving residual plant matter between your teeth can cause plaque.
If it’s been a while since you scheduled a cleaning at our office, now’s a good time to catch up on this important preventative treatment.
Iced Coffee
You may know that coffee, whether hot or iced, can stain your teeth. That may just be a cosmetic issue, but iced coffee offers another potential danger. Iced coffee tends to come loaded with sugar and syrups that can cause tooth decay.
You can cut the risk of damaging your teeth by opting for sugar-free or low-sugar iced coffee options that still give you that caffeine kick!
Pickles
If you are looking for ways to reduce your risk of developing cavities, you may want to cut back on pickles. Although addictively tasty, pickles are soaked in vinegar. This can slowly erode your enamel over time, with sensitivity and increased cavities risk following the loss of enamel.
Try to minimise the time that you spend chewing pickles. It also helps to rinse your teeth off once you are done. These small steps can prevent dental erosion.
Sugary Drinks
The amount of sugar found in soft drinks is astounding. Sugar coats your teeth and promotes the growth of bacteria. Over time, as the bacteria eat the sugar, the microbes release small bits of acid that demineralize the enamel. Freshly squeezed fruit juice has great health benefits but be aware that fruit juice contains significant sugar and acid content so we advise moderation. Eating whole fruit is a great alternative, this means you also get to enjoy the benefits of fruit fibre in your diet.
Soft drinks aren’t the only offenders either. Sports drinks and even some types of flavoured waters can have high amounts of sugar that lead to dental erosion. Consider going with pure H2O or a sugar-free alternative to these worst drinks for teeth.
Ice Cream
We all love to indulge in ice cream once in a while, especially when it’s hot outside. Be careful, though. Ice cream and popsicles are loaded with sugar.
This can be especially dangerous for children. Their teeth are still developing, and their enamel is relatively soft.
Schedule Your Next Visit Today
The old adage of everything in moderation applies here. You don’t have to cut everything out, but you should consider cutting back on some foods that are bad for your teeth.
Does talk of sugary foods and cavities have you thinking about your oral health? We’d love to schedule your next visit. Send us a message online or call today!