If you’re trying to sustain your healthy smile for life, there’s more to it than just brushing and flossing your teeth and visiting the dentist. From wearing a nightguard if you’re prone to bruxism to not using your teeth as tools, there are several ways to protect your teeth for life outside of traditional methods. Another way you can protect your teeth is by avoiding certain foods or eating them in moderation. Explore the worst foods for your teeth below so you know what to avoid.
Citrus
Lemons, grapefruits, and oranges might be delicious to eat and drink and packed with vitamin C but can do quite an amount of damage on your teeth. This also includes squeezing the fruit juice in water or food. The high acidic content can cause enamel erosion which can increase the likelihood of tooth decay. If you choose to eat or drink citrus, consider consuming it in moderation and rinsing your mouth with water afterward.
Ice
It’s fine to drink as much water as you want, but once water becomes ice, you should avoid chewing it at all costs. Chewing on ice can not only damage your enamel but chip, crack or break teeth or restorations. Avoid chewing ice if you decide to add it to a drink.
Chewy, Sour, or Hard Candy
Although all candy isn’t particularly good for your teeth, hard, chewy and sour candy is especially bad. Sour candy, for example, is not only chewy but contains a higher acidity which can cause even more harm to your teeth. The high acidic content in combination with the stickiness that causes it to become stuck to your teeth will erode the enamel. With hard candy, the sugar covers every inch of every tooth, which can cause plaque to build up and tooth decay to form. If you choose to indulge in candy, make sure to brush your teeth afterward!
Potato Chips
As enjoyable as the crunch of tasty potato chip is, they’re loaded with starch which later becomes sugar. It then gets trapped between your teeth and fuels bacteria in plaque which can then cause tooth decay. Do yourself a favor and brush and floss your teeth after indulging in your favorite chips.
Carbonated Beverages
Whether you’re drinking soda, sparkling water or beer, carbonated drinks can cause as much damage to teeth as hard drugs like crack cocaine and methamphetamine. Carbonated sugars, for example, allow plaque to produce even more acid to attack your teeth. In addition, dark-colored sodas can stain or discolor your teeth. If you’re indulging in a beer, the alcohol content can dehydrate you which decreases saliva production. As a result, fewer bacteria wash away.
If you want to maintain your healthy smile for life, make sure to not overindulge in these foods. If you want to eat or drink them, make sure to brush, floss and visit us regularly for dental exams and cleanings. Schedule your next dental cleaning with St. Augustine dentist Dr. Kinsey today by calling (904) 474-5444.
