Our teeth are powerful tools. The average human has a bite strength of about 162 pounds per square inch, enabling us to cut through and process our food daily. Unfortunately, we tend to take the strength of our teeth for granted. In reality, the foods we eat and the liquids we drink are constantly damaging the protective layer of enamel that keeps our teeth in good condition. To maintain a strong and beautiful smile we have to put a lot more thought into the effect our diet has on our teeth. The worst foods for your teeth can have the opposite effect.
Visit the best dentist Cerritos has to learn more. From routine treatments to teeth cleaning, we have your covered.
The Worst Foods for Your Teeth
You could write a book on all the food and drink that has the potential to harm your teeth. The following list is not intended to be comprehensive. Rather, we have identified a few key components in food and drink that make them harmful. If you’re looking to improve the way you care for your teeth, you can use this list a solid starting point for picking out the foods that are potentially harmful. From there you may also choose to use proactive solutions to protect your teeth when you do ingest food and drink with harmful properties.
Sugar
-Common Examples: Hard Candy, Baked Goods, Fruit Juices
You probably already know that sugar is bad for your teeth. However, you might not know why. You see, it isn’t the sugar itself, but the way the naturally occurring bacteria in your mouth react to sugar.
You have roughly 700 species of bacteria in your mouth, and they actually consume the sugar left in your mouth after eating something with a high sugar content. The byproduct of this interaction is an acid that will damage your teeth over time. It also contributes to the formation of plaque. Luckily, you can prevent damage by brushing your teeth after consuming something containing sugar.
Starch
-Common Examples: Bread, Potato Chips, and Practically Every Other Snack Food
If you’ve ever noticed how well white bread sticks to your teeth, you already understand the basic problem with starchy foods. Highly refined bread products have a lot of added sugar already. As you chew, your teeth actually break the starches down into sugar, leading to the same problem discussed above.
To keep enjoying those sweet carbs, try opting for a whole wheat variety. These starches are harder for your teeth to break down and contain less added sugar. To be safe, you should still brush your teeth immediately after. Make sure you’re scheduling regular dental cleanings to remove any residual plaque.
Acid
-Common Examples: Red Wine, Citrus Fruit, and Just About Everything Sour
The damage done by high acid food and drink is very direct. It actively erodes the protective coating that naturally covers your teeth. That means that you are more susceptible to cavities and general tooth decay. Unfortunately, immediately brushing your teeth is probably not the right answer.
Acids weaken the enamel, so the last thing you want to subject your teeth to is the physical abrasion of a toothbrush. Instead of going straight to the bathroom for some solid dental hygiene, consume something with a more basic pH level. A glass of milk, mineral water, or even a spoonful of ice cream can help to balance out the acid on your teeth, allowing you to brush your teeth safely.
These are the primary categories of harmful foods, but you should also be wary of alcohol and carbonation. They can dry out the mouth, preventing your saliva from cleaning your teeth throughout the day. By extension, that makes it easier for the acids and sugars to stay on your teeth and do further damage. If you have any questions about the effects of your dietary habits on your oral health just ask your local dentist at Jesmine Boghawala DDS.
