Tooth decay can affect anyone, no matter what age you are. Tooth decay is a result of having plaque with bacteria that feeds on the sugars in your diet, which then causes cavities. Cavities happen due to the bacteria eating the sugar and turning it into an acid that dissolves your tooth’s enamel.
Eating foods that are high in sugar are bad for your teeth and contribute to plaque and tooth decay. In this article, we will discuss what foods you should try to stay away from or limit, in order to keep your teeth as healthy as you can.
What foods should you be the most concerned with?
In general, foods that are sticky and sugary will be bad for your teeth. When foods are sticky they tend to stick onto your teeth longer, which gives the bacteria a greater chance to do damage to your teeth. Acidic foods can also be a bad choice, as the acid can potentially damage tooth enamel. Food and drinks that are sugary and acidic (such as soda), can cause double the harm to your teeth.
The foods listed below are not necessarily bad for your health, but experts recommend that you brush your teeth, floss and rinse your mouth after consuming these food items to help prevent cavities from forming.
1. Popcorn
Popcorn is a healthy snack alternative to chips but there are a few reasons why it can be very hard on your teeth. We typically enjoy popcorn during a long movie which gives bacteria more time to damage your teeth while you watch. Plus, it’s virtually impossible to eat popcorn without getting it stuck in between your teeth. Be prepared with a toothpick and some water or a good floss after you’re done eating.
In addition to that, those hard unpopped kernels are great at cracking teeth if you accidentally bite down on one. If you eat popcorn by the handful, take some extra care.
2. Refined carbs
Refined carbs typically include most of young children’s favourite foods such as white bread, crackers, chips or french fries. These are all simple carbs that break down into sugars. Once these sugars mix in with the bacteria in the mouth, they ferment and create lactic acid which is very efficient at eroding tooth enamel.
Soft white bread and dinner rolls are the worst culprits, as they tend to stick to the teeth easily, giving the bacteria more time to create acid.
3. Dried fruits
Things like raisins, dried apricots or fruit roll-ups are often believed to be examples of wholesome, nutritious snacks which are better for teeth than candy. But the sugars found in these fruits are highly concentrated due to drying them out. Plus, their chewy texture makes them prone to stick to teeth, giving the bacteria extra time to cause damage.
4. Soft drinks
All soft drinks, whether they contain sugar or not, will have acid. This can damage your teeth which can lead to increased cavities and dental erosion. Try to avoid soft drinks if you want to keep your teeth healthier. Stick to unsweetened tea or water as a replacement. If you need to drink a soft drink, avoid brushing your teeth immediately after since the acid softens your tooth enamel making them more vulnerable to abrasion.
5. Pickles
Pickled foods use vinegar which contains acid, and is important for the pickling process. This acid can cause staining as well as erosion of your tooth enamel. Many pickled foods contain sugar which also contributes to cavities.
6. Wine
Both white and red wine contain erosive acid, which works to soften the enamel. Red wine also contains compounds known as tannins, which dry out your mouth and stain your teeth. If you know you are going to drink wine, brush your teeth beforehand to help reduce the amount of plaque that the wine can stick to. You should also wait 30 mins after drinking wine to brush your teeth to avoid brushing the wine into your teeth.
7. Citrus fruits
Citrus fruits can be an important part of any healthy diet, but when you eat a lot of them on their own the citric acid in the fruit can wear away at your tooth enamel, which leaves your teeth vulnerable to cavities. Lemons, limes and grapefruit are especially highly acidic. When you are drinking juices, try using a straw so that some of the acid bypasses your teeth.
8. Pasta sauce
Tomatoes are a healthy source of vitamins but they are acidic. When you eat pasta with red sauce, it can do double the damage to your enamel because the acid in the sauce breaks down your teeth and the pasta’s carbohydrates help feed bacteria that cause cavities.
9. Hard candy
Hard candies linger in your mouth for a while as you wait for them to dissolve. It can take around ten minutes for some hard candies to dissolve and there are no health benefits to eating candy. Because the sugary treat spends so much time in your mouth it gives the bacteria lots of time to do some serious damage. Hard candy also has the potential to crack teeth and cause cuts on the inside of your mouth.
10. PB&J sandwiches
Peanut butter is usually made with a lot of sugar and it is sticky. Instead, try using natural peanut butter with no added sugar to lessen the problem. Along with that, jam is typically loaded with sugar. Even all-fruit jams contain natural sugars that encourage plaque and bacteria to gather if not rinsed out right away.
To learn more about dental services in Toronto, call Bloor West Smiles at 416-766-2853 or contact us here.
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