Your dentist can probably tell what you eat by looking at your teeth. If you drink or eat foods that damage teeth, you will likely end up dealing with the consequences sooner or later. The following are the top 7 foods that can damage your teeth. Please call our Amherst dentist today for a free consultation if you have more questions.
Top 7 Harmful Foods for Your Teeth
The food choices that you make are essential to your overall health as well as your dental health. Making smart choices can help you avoid unpleasant dental issues. Please keep reading to learn more.
#1 Sticky Candies
One of the most widely known foods that damage teeth are sticky candies, and Sour candies especially are harmful due to their acidity. When you have sticky candies, your teeth can become coated in erosive sugar particles, and your saliva has a hard time washing that amount of sugar away. Believe it or not, chocolate is a better option than sticky candies.
#2 Alcohol
Drinking alcohol can dry out your mouth and make you dehydrated, which is not only bad for your teeth but your overall health as well.
Saliva has a vital role in keeping your teeth healthy. Your spit keeps your mouth hydrated, protects against decay, and washes away food particles. Hydrating is especially important if you are having alcoholic beverages.
#3 Pop
A study published in 2013 showed that drinking large quantities of pop could cause as much damage to your teeth as using meth or crack cocaine. This would be a great example if someone wanted a good reason to avoid foods that damage teeth.
The carbonation, as well as the sugar content in soda, is the reason for dental decay. Your enamel will become susceptible to erosion due to the acidic content. If you drink pop throughout the day, you likely have a mouth coated in acid.
#4 Ice
While technically not a food, ice is often chewed on by folks. Not only are you wearing down your enamel, but you are also making yourself susceptible to dental issues such as chips, cracks, etc. You can lose a dental crown if you chew on ice regularly. There is an association between chewing on ice and having an iron deficiency, but that reasoning is unclear. We strongly advise against making ice a regular snack.
#5 Coffee
You may have to worry about staining your teeth if you drink your coffee black. However, the real damage to coffee drinking comes with what people add to it.
When you fill up your daily coffee with sugary additives like syrup or flavoring, that can damage your teeth. Foods that damage teeth are often loaded with sugar or starches.
Additionally, coffee can make your mouth dry. Most people are unwilling to give up their morning coffee rituals. If you do not want to adjust your coffee order, make sure to have plenty of water to rinse your mouth to keep your teeth healthy.
#6 Sports Drinks
The advertisements for sports drinks can be tempting. The beverages have an allure that makes them seem healthy. However, in most cases, they are loaded with sugar. If you are not an athlete participating in persistent physical activity, having a sports drink is likely unnecessary. Even so, diluting some of these drinks can be much better for you. If you enjoy sports drinks, choose one with low sugar content.
#7 Chips
When looking for a snack to enjoy, potato chips are often a quick, easy, portable option. However, potato chips’ starch can become sugar when particles are trapped between your teeth, which essentially becomes food for plaque. If you like chips, be sure to keep floss nearby.
Should I Eliminate Foods that Damage Teeth?
You do not have to cut out these foods and beverages completely. However, enjoying them in moderation and rinsing your mouth out after enjoying them will greatly benefit your dental health.
Schedule Your Free Consultation Today
If you would like more information about foods that damage teeth, we can help you learn more. Our Amherst dentist has the answers you are looking for. Schedule your free consultation with us when you call today.
