Teeth Whitening– Avoid These Foods for Healthy Teeth

ou know the basic routine for a healthy smile: brush and floss daily and avoid snacks packed with sugar. But some food choices might not be so obviously bad for your dental health. Unlike other gradual changes to your body to which some poor food choices contribute, the food you eat begins to impact your dental health the minute you put it in your mouth. Let’s take a look at some of the worst foods for healthy teeth and what makes them so bad.

Worst Foods for Healthy Teeth and Beautiful Smile

Hard candies. It’s probably not a huge surprise that sweets like lollipops and other hard candies are major contributors to develop tooth decay. They are especially harmful to your tooth enamel because it takes them so long to dissolve and they tend to stick to your teeth long afterward. So even when you think you’re done with that mint, it’s still working to break down your enamel.

Crackers and chips. Starchy foods like crackers and potato chips might not taste as sweet as candy, but they get stuck in between teeth and promote bacteria growth that leads to plaque (Read also: Chewing Gum to Fight Plaque).

Is Citrus Fruit Bad for Your Teeth?

Citrus fruits. Lemons and oranges pack a punch of antioxidants like vitamin C, but they’re also very acidic. This acid breaks down tooth enamel, making your teeth more vulnerable to decay. Citrus fruits are also very high in sugar. But you don’t need to cut out citrus entirely, just be sure to drink a glass of water after drinking citrus or eating worst foods for healthy teeth.

Dried fruits. It’s the combination of stickiness with a high sugar content that makes dried fruits so bad for your teeth. Just like hard candies, dried fruit tends to stick around long after you’re done chewing. But dried fruits redeem themselves a bit through their chewiness, which activates saliva production and washes away some of the acid.

How Soda and Coffee Affects Your Teeth

Soda. Probably one of the worst foods for healthy teeth is soda. Even diet soda is acidic, so while you’re not getting the extra sugar when you drink diet beverages, you’re still giving your teeth an acid bath every time you  testate a sip. Sports drinks aren’t any better. Replace them both with water for your smile’s sake.

Coffee. You probably know that coffee stains your teeth, but it also leaves a sticky film behind, allowing more food particles to adhere to your teeth throughout the day. Many people also add sugar and creamers to their coffee, giving the beverage even more ammunition against your tooth enamel. If you can’t go without your morning coffee, try not to add sugar and try to find time to brush your teeth afterward (Read also: Manual and Electronic Toothbrushes).

Alcohol Impact on Dental Health

Alcohol. Alcoholic drinks tend to dry out the mouth because it dehydrates the entire body and its not good foods for healthy teeth and general health. Heavy drinkers may notice that their saliva production is diminished over time, leading to more acid buildup. Alcohol is also corrosive to the soft tissues of the mouth like the cheeks, tongue, and gums, meaning heavy consumption can make a person more likely to develop cancers of the mouth.

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