Unfortunately, there are a large number of foods and drinks that are bad for your teeth. Here, we’ll explain which foods and drinks harm oral health the most.
Carbonated Drinks
You can probably guess that regular soda is one of the worst drinks for your teeth because of all of the sugar that’s in it. However, even if it’s diet soda, carbonated drinks are still not good for your teeth. This is because they are incredibly acidic and acid happens to be one of your teeth’s biggest enemies. Acid weakens tooth enamel and this can lead to developing tooth decay. Sodas can also dry out your mouth which is a problem because a dry mouth means less saliva which is vital to remineralizing your enamel and washing away any leftover sugary food particles that are stuck in your mouth. Further, dark colored sodas can even stain your teeth.
Popcorn & Chips
These are the kinds of snacks that are very hard to resist. If you open a bag of chips or pop some popcorn, it can be hard to stop eating. The issue with foods like chips and popcorn is that tiny particles of the food almost always get stuck in between your teeth and in your mouth. If these aren’t promptly removed, bacteria feed on them and turn them into enamel wearing acids that lead to tooth decay.
Candy
Everyone knows that candy is bad for your teeth and something dentists regularly warn about. The reason candy is so bad for you is that it’s so high in sugar that can lead to tooth decay. Hard candies can also crack or break your teeth and chewy candies can get stuck in between your teeth and be hard to remove. This can lead to plaque buildup which causes cavities and other serious dental health issues. If you still have a sweet tooth, try replacing sugary candies with dark chocolate, which is soft and can easily wash away with water.
Alcohol
Cocktails like margaritas and even gin and tonics are packed with sugars that lead to tooth decay. Further, alcohol dries out your mouth, reducing your saliva production, which, as mentioned above, is dangerous for your oral health.
Citrus Fruits
While you may not think of fruit as being bad for your teeth, citrus fruits contain a lot of acid. This is a problem because acid wears away at your tooth’s enamel, weakening the tooth, and making it vulnerable to tooth decay. While eating citrus fruits isn’t always a bad thing, try to keep your citrus intake moderate and always drink water when you’re eating it, whether it’s a grapefruit or an orange.
Questions? We Have Answers
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Unfortunately, there are a large number of foods and drinks that are bad for your teeth. Here, we’ll explain which foods and drinks harm oral health the most.