Tooth decay can affect anyone, no matter how old you are. Plaque and bacteria in your mouth feed on the sugar in foods. The bacteria eat the sugar, turning it into an acid that dissolves the tooth enamel. If this is left to continue, decay and further damage can arise.
Maintaining good oral health is essential to your overall well-being, and what you eat plays a big role in the health of your smile. Regular dental checkups in Edmonton are crucial, but the most important preventative measure begins at home. Good nutrition and healthy food play an important part in your dental healthcare.
Regarding kids, parents need to exercise control and supervision over their diet until they are old enough to practice good hygiene since cavities in baby teeth can lead to several problems, even in adulthood.
Here are 10 food items that are bad for your teeth and should be consumed in moderation or avoided altogether.
1. Hard candy:
Hard candies have the potential to slash the inside of your mouth and shatter teeth. While you wait for the hard candies to disintegrate, they linger in your mouth for some time. Consuming candy has no known health advantages, and some sweet treats might take up to 10 minutes to dissolve.
2. Citrus fruits:
Citrus fruits can be an important part of a healthy diet, but if you consume too many of them, the citric acid in the fruit can attack your tooth enamel and make your teeth more susceptible to decay. Citrus fruits like grapefruit, limes, and lemons are very acidic.
3. Soda:
If you want to maintain the health of your teeth, try to avoid soft drinks. Whether they have sugar or not, all soft drinks contain acid. Your teeth may suffer from this damage, resulting in more cavities and dental erosion. As an alternative, stick with water or unsweetened tea. If you must have a soft drink, wait a few minutes before brushing your teeth since the acid weakens the enamel on your teeth, leaving them more prone to abrasion.
4. Pickles:
Vinegar, which includes acid and is used in the pickling process, is used to preserve goods. This acid can erode the enamel of your teeth and cause discolouration. Several items that have been pickled include sugar, which also causes cavities.
5. Sticky foods:
In addition to being high in sugar, foods such as caramel and taffy can cling to teeth and cause cavities.
6. Alcohol:
Saliva is crucial for cleaning away food debris and germs that can lead to tooth and gum damage. Too little saliva increases the risk of gum disease and tooth decay. Dehydration brought on by alcohol may result in dry mouth. Several alcoholic beverages are acidic, which can degrade tooth enamel over time. Drinks that contain alcohol often have high sugar content, which can also cause tooth decay. Certain alcoholic beverages can gradually discolour teeth.
7. Dried fruits:
It’s common knowledge that foods like raisins, dried apricots, and fruit roll-ups are wholesome, nutritional snacks that are healthier for teeth than sweets. Yet, since the fruits are dried out, the sugars in them are quite concentrated. Also, their chewy nature makes them seem more likely to attach to teeth, allowing the bacteria more opportunity to harm the teeth.
8. Coffee:
Coffee can cause tooth stains and reduce salivation, which increases the risk of tooth decay and causes dry mouth.
9. Ice:
Chewing on ice can cause the enamel to chip or crack, leading to tooth sensitivity and other problems.
10. Potato chips:
Crisps are starchy and can stick to the teeth, increasing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
At Albany Dental, located at 12728 167 Ave NW, Edmonton, our dentists can provide guided counselling and tips to keep your teeth in their best state. Visit our dentist near you to get your dental cleaning.