The Worst Foods For Your Teeth

6 Foods to Eat Sparingly

It isn’t easy to keep teeth clean and white over the course of a lifetime. Here’s a list of some of the foods that can do the most damage to your teeth. Avoid them when you can and drink a lot of water when you indulge.

Hard candies could be anything from lollipops, gobstoppers or Jolly Ranchers. This type of candy is overloaded with sugar. They are designed to sit in a person’s mouth as they swish the sugar against and through their teeth for a good fifteen minutes. Worse, hard candies are sometimes so hard that people can break or chip a tooth chowing down on them. Sugarless gum is a good alternative.

Most people think that there is no such thing as too much fruit in a daily diet. This simply is not true. While fruit offers an array of health benefits, too much of anything is bad news. Citrus fruits like lemons, grapefruit, limes and oranges are full of acids that can erode tooth enamel and promote tooth decay. Those who like to squeeze lime juice in a glass of water should do so sparingly. Drinking plenty of plain water can help prevent lasting damage from citrus.

Millions are addicted to these caffeinated beverages despite the ample evidence that too much coffee can be very bad for the human body. The damage to teeth comes from when a drinker adds sugar to their coffee, which can erode enamel. Coffee and tea in general can dry out the mouth and worse, coffee is one of the major causes of tooth yellowing. The best way to consume coffee is with no sugar and to make sure that you drink plenty of water during the day.

Potato chips are full of starch, which gets stuck between the teeth and can do a lot of damage. Those who do not floss and eat chips are in for a lot of visits to the dentist. If you indulge on occasion, be sure to floss daily to prevent plaque from building up.

This includes caramel, taffy, and “sour” candy. These candies stick to teeth and give bacteria plenty of time to collect. The bacteria makes acid and causes cavities. These candies are considered some of the worst foods for teeth and should be avoided whenever possible. Not only do they contain acid, but they create acid.

Soda is another leading cause of tooth decay. Some people drink soda every single day. It is this constant, long term use that exposes teeth to acids that decay the hard surfaces of teeth and cause yellowing. Soda needs to be consumed in moderation, and many physicians suggest that people don’t drink it at all.

The post The Worst Foods For Your Teeth appeared first on South Temple Dental.