Top Six Worst Foods For Oral Health

There are many foods that can potentially harm your dental health. Some of them are listed below.

• Sour candies

These snacks are dangerous to your teeth because they contain a large amount of acid and sugar, which combine to cause tooth decay and enamel erosion. Many sour candies also contain artificial dyes and flavors that stick to your teeth long after you’ve finished eating the candy.

Besides being bad for your oral health, these sugary treats are also bad for your waistline. If you eat a lot of sour candies, you may gain weight over time. This is why it’s healthiest to avoid this type of candy altogether.

• Bread

Sure, everyone enjoys a nice buttery piece of bread every now and then – but if your teeth are not in tip-top shape, you may want to think twice before indulging in this delicious treat! Why? Because while they may taste great and are filling, most bread is packed with starch that can easily get stuck between teeth and cause cavities. Starchy foods can also cause plaque to build up on teeth and lead to gum disease and gingivitis. 

• Alcohol

Some people enjoy a glass of wine with dinner or a beer on a hot day. But drinking alcohol in excess can lead to a number of oral health issues, including tooth decay and oral cancer. Plus, alcohol has a dehydrating effect on your body’s mucous membranes. All that together can increase your risk of gum disease and other oral infections.

If you do drink, limit yourself to two drinks per day for men and one for women. And be aware that some alcoholic drinks are more harmful to your teeth than others. It’s best to stick to clear alcoholic beverages like gin or vodka that don’t have dark staining pigments that stick around even when you rinse with water. Many beers also have dark pigments that can stain your teeth.

• Carbonated drinks

One of the worst things you can drink is soda or carbonated beverages. Soda contains large amounts of sugar and acid in the form of phosphoric acid, which erodes enamel. And frequent consumption of sodas can lead to chronic tooth erosion. Other acidic foods and drinks to avoid include sports drinks and juices.

Too much carbonation can weaken your tooth structure and cause tooth loss over time. So it’s best to limit your intake of carbonated beverages. Even diet sodas aren’t good for your teeth because they contain either aspartame or other artificial sweeteners that can damage your enamel. Another bad thing about carbonated beverages is that they dry out your mouth, which makes you more prone to cavities. Soft drinks also increase your risk of getting oral cancer.

It’s best to avoid drinking these beverages altogether. If you do enjoy a glass of carbonated beverage every now and then, be sure to drink water afterward to rinse the acids from your mouth.

• Citrus fruits

Lemons, limes, and other citrus fruits are good for you in general due to their high vitamin C content. But they have one drawback for people trying to maintain healthy teeth and gums. The acid content in citrus fruits can erode the enamel of your teeth, especially if the juice is lingering on your pearly whites for a long period of time. Therefore, it’s wise to rinse your mouth with water after enjoying a piece of lemon pie or drinking lemonade. 

• Potato chips

Most people love chips and consume them often without realizing the damage they can cause to their teeth. Chips are a major cause of tooth decay due to their starchy nature and high starch content. When consumed regularly and in large amounts, potato chips break apart the enamel of the teeth, which exposes them to acid and sugars. The sugar in the chips feeds the bacteria, which causes cavities and gum disease, while the acid strips away the minerals from the tooth’s surface. This process of chipping away at the enamel continues with each chip until the entire outer layer is lost. Once that layer is gone, the tooth is left exposed and highly susceptible to decay. Cavities develop quickly if the damage is not repaired by a dentist immediately.

Get in touch with Peak Family Dentistry at 4933 Brainerd Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37411, or call (423) 899-1948 to schedule an appointment for the best dental care based on your specific needs.