It should go without saying that what you put in your mouth has a direct impact on your dental health. Some foods are great for your health and good for your teeth—other foods, not so much.
Let’s take a few minutes to take a look at foods that are damaging to your teeth according to the ADA and how to practice moderation.
Candy. In moderation, candy makes a tasty treat. But when you eat a lot of it, your teeth are being constantly exposed to sugar in your saliva.
Biting down on hard candies brings an additional risk of tooth fracture and additional sugar exposure from sticky hard candy on the chewing surface of your tooth! If you’re craving a sweet treat, try reaching for some sugar-free gum instead.
Ice. Fluoridated water is one of the best things for your teeth, but believe it or not, ice is one of the worst! Like with hard candies, chewing on the hard ice carries a risk of damage to your enamel.
Chewing on ice may also cause pain for people with temperature-sensitive teeth or dental work. Dentists recommend that you drink water in its liquid state. If you’re craving something crunchy, reach for some plain celery!
Citrus fruits. Citrus fruits have a combination of high acid and sugar contents. Frequent exposure to the sugary citric acid found in these fruits can erode your tooth enamel over time and lead to tooth decay.
A squeeze of lemon in your drink or a small glass of orange juice make for a tasty boost of vitamin C, but dentists recommend that you drink lots of water between your citrus treats!
Coffee and tea. These caffeinated beverages can have healthy effects on your body in their natural state. But the popular addition of sugar makes daily consumption of coffee and tea less than stellar for your teeth.
Like citrus fruits, sugary coffee and sweet tea bring a combination of acid and sugar to your mouth—and also carry some risk of staining your teeth. Avoid the ill effects of these go-to caffeine sources by drinking them in moderation, reducing or eliminating added sugar, and drinking lots of water between cups!
Dry fruits. Dry fruits are a go-to snack for many health-conscious people, but they really aren’t super healthy. These sticky foods can result in damage to your teeth, as they contain sugar and tend to stay on your teeth longer than other foods.
Be aware of the risk and practice rinsing with water after eating your dried fruits or trail mix, and brush and floss carefully each day!
Chips. Like dry fruits, starchy potato chips tend to get trapped in your teeth after eating them. Carefully rinse, and brush and floss if possible after eating this snack.
Reaching for crunchy raw vegetables instead can make for a healthy alternative.
Soda and sports drinks. With the killer combination of acid and sugar, carbonated soft drinks and sports drinks are not friendly for your teeth at all.
To limit the effects, choose low-calorie or calorie-free varieties, consume soft drinks in moderation, and enjoy plain water as your primary drink.
Regular dental checkups are just as important to your dental health as healthy eating and brushing habits! If you’re due for a checkup, you can visit our Littleton Dental Studio website to book an appointment or give us a call at (303) 794-1707.