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Not all foods we consume daily are good for our oral health. Some can improve our dental health, while others can harm our smile. While some foods may not cause immediate harm to your teeth and gums, it is in your best interest to avoid them in order to protect your oral health. Here are some foods that can harm our oral health.

Sugary Foods

Sugary foods are not only bad for your teeth, but your overall health as well. Although sugars are a natural part of the human diet, too much can negatively affect your health. In addition to being detrimental to your oral health, sugars can contribute to weight gain, diabetes, and other serious illnesses. It is important to seek the advice of a medical professional if you think you have developed any medical condition due to the amount of sugar in your diet.

Hard Candy

Hard candies are detrimental to oral health for a few reasons. First, they are sticky; therefore, they have a tendency to get stuck in between teeth or on gums. This can cause plaque buildup over time which can result in tooth decay and cavities. Secondly, there are many types of hard candies that contain a large amount of sugar as well. Therefore, it can contribute to cavities even further because it feeds the bacteria in the mouth that then causes plaque buildup. Lastly, many hard candies have jagged edges, and this can cause serious harm to your teeth. For instance, if you bite down on a hard piece of candy, you can chip your teeth which can lead to other oral problems if not treated right away. Professional dentists recommend avoiding hard candies altogether because they can lead to so many different issues down the road.

Soft Drinks

Our dentist says soft drinks can be extremely damaging to your teeth for several reasons. First of all, the sugar content of soft drinks can cause tooth decay to occur very quickly because the sugar mixes with the plaque to form acids that eat away at the enamel of your teeth. Additionally, the carbonation found in soft drinks can harm your teeth as well. Carbonation is acidic and can erode your tooth enamel to cause irreversible damage.

Coffee and Tea

Coffee and tea are two of the most common beverages consumed in the United States. There are also a variety of health benefits associated with drinking both regular coffee as well as green tea. However, the acidity levels in these drinks can be damaging to your enamel. The dark color of the liquids can stain your teeth, and the tannins can contribute to staining as well. So if you do enjoy hot coffee or tea, try rinsing your mouth with water after consumption or use mouthwash to help reduce the damage they can do to your enamel.

Wine

Even in moderation, wine and other alcoholic beverages can cause tooth decay and enamel erosion. The acid and sugar in these beverages weaken enamel, and the oral bacteria use sugar to create acid. Over time, this wears down your enamel resulting in cavities. If you are drinking wine or other alcohol, make sure to rinse your mouth with water after drinking to prevent decay. Reducing or eliminating your intake of these drinks will help improve your oral health.

Sports Drinks

Sugary drinks or sports drinks that contain acid can erode your teeth. The carbonation in some of these drinks can also trigger heartburn and other gastric problems when consumed often. Try to limit these drinks and opt for water instead.

Citrus Fruits and Juices

Many juices contain a lot of acid and sugar, which can cause cavities when consumed in excess. However, citrus juices have very high amounts of acidity, which can also cause erosion to the enamel on your teeth. Erosion is the loss of tooth enamel resulting in small, shallow holes in the surface of the teeth. This is irreversible, so it’s best to avoid consuming acidic foods and beverages whenever possible.

Instead, try drinking plain water or sugar-free drinks to reduce sugar consumption and increase the pH of your mouth. Additionally, you can drink a few sips of orange juice or lemonade for flavor without overdoing the acidity.

Dried fruits

Fresh fruit that is dried can be healthy, but dried fruits contain no water and have been left to dry out for extended periods of time. This makes their sugar content even higher than their fresh counterparts. In addition, many dried fruits have certain preservatives, such as sulfur dioxide, which can be very harmful to your teeth.

Fruit juices are also unhealthy to consume regularly as their acidity will cause erosion of the teeth. Most fruit juices are not as bad in this regard as soft drinks and sports drinks.

To learn more, contact Gulf Coast Dental at 1751 W 9 Mile Rd. Pensacola, FL 32534, or call (850) 944-5515.