Maintaining good oral hygiene doesn’t just involve brushing and flossing teeth regularly; it also includes choosing your diet carefully. Most of the oral problems we suffer from are caused by the foods we eat because they cause a buildup of plaque in the mouth. Plaque is a sticky film filled with bacteria response for gum disease and teeth decay. The bacteria release acids that damage your teeth’s enamel, causing cavities.
If you do not brush and floss your teeth regularly, the plaque will solidify to become tartar, which leads to gingivitis (gum disease). So, if you want to prolong your teeth’ lifespan, you need to know which foods to avoid. Here is a list of the common foods that are terrible for your teeth.
Sour Candies
Although candies are generally bad for your teeth, sour candies are hazardous because they contain different acids that can damage your teeth. Moreover, they are chewy and sticky, so they will stay on your teeth more, exposing them to decay.
Bread
When you eat bread, your saliva breaks it down into sugars that get stuck in the crevices between your teeth. If you do not brush and floss your teeth thoroughly, this sugar will cause cavities. So, if you crave some bread, eat the less refined ones like whole wheat because they have less added sugars.
Alcohol
Apart from weakening your immune system, excessive consumption of alcohol also dries out your mouth. Without enough saliva to wash it down your throat, food gets stuck to your teeth, causing decay. So, minimize alcohol intake and drink enough water. It would help if you also used oral hydration and fluoride rinses to keep your mouth hydrated all the time.
Carbonated Drinks
Studies have shown that excessive consumption of carbonated drinks and soda can damage your teeth. Some studies have likened damages caused by carbonated drinks to the ones caused by crack cocaine and methamphetamine. Sodas encourage plaque to release more acids that damage tooth enamel allowing for cavities more easily. Furthermore, they dry out your mouth, allowing food particles to stick to your teeth.
Ice
The American Dental Association advises people against chewing hard substances like ice because they can easily damage teeth enamel and cause chipped, cracked, and broken teeth. If you have dental implants, ice chewing will loosen your dental crowns. To escape the urge to chew ice, use chilled water to prepare your drinks, or just take drinks without ice.
