Worst Foods for Your Teeth

Your oral health is highly crucial since it supports the health of other vital body parts, including the heart and brain. Eating certain foods deteriorate your oral health, exposing you to imminent tooth decay and gum disease.

Tooth decay starts as cavities caused by bacteria that metabolize sugar, turning it into acids that dissolve in your teeth. The dentist in Phoenix, AZ, says that eating food bad for your teeth sternly contributes to the risk of plaque and tooth decay. Learn below which foods and drinks you should limit your intake to maintain a healthy mouth.

First, let’s look at the more disputed foods for oral health.

Can Wine Rot Your Teeth?

White and red wine is confirmed to contain erosive acids that soften the enamel when taken extensively. Red wine, especially, has tannins which are compounds that dry your mouth and stain your teeth. If you must drink wine, brush your teeth beforehand. This reduces the amount of plaque available in your teeth for these compounds to stick to.

The dentist near you also advises that you wait for thirty minutes after drinking wine before brushing your teeth. It helps to avoid brushing these acids into your teeth. So, poor oral hygiene among alcohol and wine consumers can gradually rot your teeth.

Is a Soft Drink Good for Teeth?

It’s known that not much good comes from soda or pop. This is true even with “diet” soft drinks. A recent study suggests that excessive drinking of carbonated soft drinks had the same damaging effects on your teeth as crystal meth or crack cocaine.

This is because carbonated drinks facilitate plaque formation, which produces more acid that damages the enamel. So, by sipping a soda all day, you are coating acid on your teeth. It also dries your saliva out. Additionally, dark-colored sodas can easily discolor your teeth. It’s advisable not to brush immediately after taking a soda as it could hasten decay.

Other Bad Foods for Your Teeth

Sugary Snacks

If you must have sweets for the sake of your oral health, eat sweets that quickly dissolve in your mouth. Candy that needs to be in the mouth for extended periods like caramel, lollipops, and other hard candies makes it difficult for saliva to wash away excess sugar in the mouth. High-sugar desserts like cakes, cookies, and pies may also cause decay and oral infections.

If sweets are irresistible, always eat them after the main meal and not in between meals. Also, if possible, always brush your teeth after eating sweet things.

Citrus Fruits

Citrus fruits are highly essential for a completely balanced diet. However, they contain citric acid, which can erode away the tooth enamel when consumed in large amounts. This leaves your teeth exposed to cavity infections.

More highly acidic fruits like lemons, limes, and grapefruits are to avoid. A good tip is to use straws when taking juices so that some acid bypasses your teeth.

Potato Crisps

Crunchy potato chips are soothingly satisfying to many people. However, they have high starch content that converts to sugar when trapped in between teeth. Sugar feeds bacteria in the mouth, which enhances plaque growth.

Since you will not have just one chip, the acid lingers in the mouth for some time. The dentist in Phoenix, AZ, advises that after goring in a whole bag of chips, use dental floss to remove the small pieces trapped between teeth.

Dried Fruits

According to many people, dried fruits are healthier than many snacks. There is some truth in it, but some dried fruits like raisins, figs, and prunes are sticky. They cling and stick on the tooth crevice, and when not removed, they leave behind lots of sugar.

If you relish taking dried fruits, we advise a thorough mouth rinsing with water afterward, brush and floss. It’s also advisable to eat fresh fruits which have less sugar concentration.

Pasta Sauce

Tomatoes are healthy to eat, but they are acidic. After eating spaghetti with tomato sauce, it can have double damage on your tooth enamel. The acidic sauce wears down your tooth enamel, and the pasta curbs feed the bacteria that facilitate cavity formation. Instead, try pasta with cheese.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is popular for its detoxifying attributes. However, it’s highly acidic and can quickly erode your tooth enamel. We advise adding some water in the apple cider vinegar and drinking it all as a whole instead of just sipping slowly. Also, carefully rinse your mouth afterward.