Worst Foods For Oral Health

Eating habits play a major role in keeping your oral health in good condition. But there are some foods that can damage your teeth. Listed below are 5 of the worst foods for your oral health.

• Sticky foods

Some foods are more harmful to your teeth than others. Caramel, gummy candies, and chewy foods such as dried fruits cling to teeth and contribute to plaque buildup. Bacteria live on the pieces of these foods that remain in your mouth after eating them. This bacteria produces acid that can erode your tooth enamel and cause cavities over time. Try to choose healthy snacks such as nuts, fresh fruit, and vegetables when possible. If you must indulge in sticky food, brush your teeth afterward to limit the damage.

• Hard candy

Hard candies, including lollipops, gummy bears, and gumdrops, can cause damage to the teeth, gums, and jaw. With all that sugar packed into a tiny piece of candy, it’s no surprise that the sticky substance clings to the teeth and causes cavities and tooth decay. The risk of tooth decay compounds for children who chew on these candies throughout the day. The longer a child has to ingest these candies, the greater the risk for damage. In extreme cases, children may go so far as to break or fracture their teeth while chewing on hard candies.

• Sugary drinks

Unfortunately, there are many foods and drinks that are highly damaging to your teeth and to your overall oral health. The biggest culprits are sugary drinks and foods that contain a lot of sugar or starch. This includes soft drinks, sports drinks, fruit juices, sweetened teas, cakes, candy, cookies, and more. They have high sugar content and tend to cling to the teeth, which attracts plaque-producing oral bacteria. This can cause tooth decay and even tooth loss! In addition, the acid in food and drinks can erode tooth enamel over time and contribute to cavities. You should also avoid sticky sweets that can get stuck in between the teeth and cause decay. These include hard candies, caramels, licorice, jelly beans, gummy bears, and some dried fruits. Finally, there are packaged foods and snacks that contain different types of sugars or even artificial sweeteners like aspartame. These can also contribute to tooth decay by sticking to teeth and promoting bacterial growth. 

• Fruit juices

While fruit juices can be healthy, most of them are very acidic and filled with sugar. Even the ones that are low-sugar are still high in acid, so it is best to drink them in moderation only. If you drink a lot of juice, it can erode the enamel on your teeth and can make cavities more likely. If you do drink them, be sure to rinse your mouth with water afterward to help neutralize the acids in your mouth. Additionally, drinking water while drinking your juice can help dilute the sugars. 

• Sodas and acidic beverages

Beverages like a soda can be damaging to your teeth in a couple of ways. The acid and sugar content of these beverages can wear down your enamel, leaving your teeth vulnerable to decay. Additionally, the carbonation found in sodas can leave a film on your teeth, which can further weaken them. Drinking too much soda can also cause staining on your teeth. This occurs because the dark pigment of the beverage gets deposited on the tooth surface. If you do drink soda, use a straw to avoid contact with your teeth. Afterward, you should brush your teeth and rinse your mouth out with water.

If you need to schedule an appointment with us, please call 541.928.6622 or visit us at 1123 Hill Street SE, Suite A, Albany, OR 97322. Please contact us at office@albanydentalhealth.com if you require any additional information.