Bad foods for your teeth don’t necessarily have to be unhealthy. When it comes to teeth nutrition, you are better sticking with fruits and vegetables and drinking water. However, that is unrealistic for most people. Your tooth health is also affected by textures and other qualities in some foods that you may not think about. We all know that sugary foods and drinks are problematic as the sugars create acid in the mouth that becomes a breeding ground for dangerous bacteria. The following list of bad foods for your teeth may surprise you. If you are struggling with your oral health, Lovett Dental Beaumont can help.
Citrus Fruit
Oranges, lemons, and other citrus fruits are very high in acid content. The acids in these fruits attach to the enamel of your teeth and start eating away at it.
Sticky Food
The last time you ate a piece of caramel candy, did you notice how you seemed to be finding little pieces of it in your mouth an hour or two later? Sticky foods tend to stick to the surface of your teeth or hiding between teeth. This causes the buildup of bacteria and, eventually, plaque and the need for professional teeth cleaning.
Dried Fruit
The fruit is often thought of as healthy, and many people feel that snacking on dried fruit is a great alternative to other sweet snacks, especially since it also seems to curb the sweet cravings. The trouble with dried fruits is that they often contain much more sugar than fresh fruit, and the sugar causes cavities over time.
White Bread
White bread is one of the bad foods for your teeth because it is full of starch. As you chew the bread, pieces find their way between your teeth and hide there. Even drinking water to rinse your mouth isn’t very effective as the starch expands and molds itself into the area it inhabits. This can cause damage to both teeth and gums.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are another one of those healthy foods in the category of bad foods for your teeth. Like citrus fruit, that is because of the high acid content in tomatoes and everything made from them. You may want to forgo the tomatoes in your salad or opt for a white sauce on your pasta.
Pickles
The vinegar in pickles is another instance of acid rearing its ugly head. A better option is to stick with cucumbers or to rinse your pickles before you eat them.
Potato Chips
It isn’t the crunch in potato chips that creates a problem. It is the starch. As you chew the chips, some of the starch finds its way between your teeth and expands to fill the area; it then becomes a breeding ground for damaging bacteria until it can be removed through dental services.
Popcorn
Everyone knows the uncomfortable feeling of getting popcorn stuck in your teeth. Stuck food always creates a bad situation,
Ice
Bad foods for your teeth also includes ice. People who crunch on ice risk damaging the enamel on their teeth or otherwise chipping a tooth in a weak spot.
Sports Drinks
Although considered healthy, sports drinks are packed with sugar that is loved by bacteria. Normally people who drink these are nowhere near a place to brush their teeth, and the sugar has hours to do damage.
Lovett Dental Beaumont
Knowing the bad foods for your teeth is important, but so is having a dental hygiene program that includes daily brushing and flossing and visiting your dentist for regular cleanings and exams. In Texas, you can contact Lovett Dental Beaumont at 409-924-8100 and find out more ways to improve your tooth health and maintain a healthy smile. Contact us today and let us become a part of your regular dental health program. We want to see you smile.
