Worst Foods For Oral Health

Oral health is directly linked to your overall health. If you don’t take care of your oral health, it can have a negative impact on your overall health. The foods and beverages we consume can impact our oral health in several ways. Here are some worst foods for oral health.

Sugary Foods

Snacks like cookies, pretzels, crackers, donuts, cakes, muffins, etc., are some of the worst things to eat for your oral health. These snacks are typically filled with added sugars and starches that stick to your teeth and cause cavities. The plaque that forms from these foods can also cause gum disease if allowed to build up in your mouth.

Hard Candy

Hard candies contain a high concentration of sugar, which feeds the bacteria that cause tooth decay. The stickiness of these types of sweets also makes them harder to remove from the teeth, allowing more opportunity for these sugars to cling to the teeth longer. Keep hard candies and other sweet treats to a minimum to avoid cavities.

Soft Drinks

Just because soft drinks are refreshing doesn’t mean it’s healthy for your teeth! In fact, it is one of the worst things you can consume if you’re looking to protect your oral health. Why? Because the sugar content in most soft drinks causes cavities in both your enamel and your gums. Sugary beverages increase your risk for many oral ailments, including gingivitis and periodontitis. Instead of sipping on soda all day, try drinking more water to stay hydrated. Water cleans your mouth out without putting you at risk for tooth decay. 

Coffee and Tea

Well, it’s not surprising to see coffee and tea as some of the worst when it comes to oral health! Both beverages have high amounts of caffeine and sugar. And both can cause staining of the teeth.

The tannins in tea are the culprit for staining the teeth. Tannins are acidic and can break down the enamel on your tooth surface. Direct exposure of your teeth to coffee can also weaken the tooth structure. Over time, you will develop problems with the structural integrity of your teeth. As a result, your teeth will become weaker and more susceptible to decay.

One thing you can do to reduce the damage to your teeth is to switch to decaffeinated coffee and herbal teas. Another thing to keep in mind is to rinse your mouth with water after consuming these beverages to remove any remaining residue from the beverage.

Wine

Did you know that wine can actually stain your teeth? Red wine and white wine aren’t the only beverages that can leave stains on your teeth. Any beverage with high acid content will erode your enamel, causing tooth sensitivity and, eventually, yellow teeth. Even dark sodas like black cherry soda will stain your teeth over time! If you drink a lot of acidic drinks during the day, try to rinse your mouth out with water after drinking them.

Citrus Fruits and Juices

Lemons and other citrus fruits contain a lot of acids that can eat away at the enamel of your teeth and lead to serious decay. Enamel is highly susceptible to erosion by acidic substances like lemons that are high in acidity.

To learn more tips to keep teeth healthy, visit West Valley Natural Dentistry, Inc at 9502 W. Fairview Ave., Boise, ID 83704, or call (208) 377-2223.