Dental Office: We all want healthy teeth and a perfect smile. Although that’s not always possible, it becomes more likely when we do things to encourage healthy teeth, which tends to lead to attractive teeth and a beautiful smile. Here are a few foods that you may want to avoid to protect the health and appearance of your teeth and smile.
All Things Sugar
Sugar is the enemy of your teeth. This is particularly true of processed sugars found in candies, cookies, cake and other dessert foods. Sugar encourages the development of oral bacteria that eat away at your tooth enamel, eventually leading to tooth decay and gum disease.
You don’t have to avoid sugar altogether. Just make sure that after every meal and sugary snack, you rinse your mouth out and brush your teeth to remove food particles and sugar from your teeth and mouth.
Hard Candies
Hard and extremely crunchy foods can eventually cause structural damage to your teeth. If your tooth becomes cracked or fractured, it can allow bacteria to enter and cause a nasty infection, risking the affected tooth and sending you to the dental office.
Ice Cubes
Although ice cubes are not technically a food, some people chew on ice cubes after they finish a drink. This is really asking for it; so try to avoid chewing on hard objects, including ice cubes. This is particularly true if you already have some type of dental restoration in your mouth, as these are not typically as strong as natural tooth enamel.
Tea, Coffee and Red Wine
The sugar in red wine can cause tooth decay over time, while substances contained in all three beverages can stain your teeth. If you are a heavy drinker of dark-colored beverages like coffee, tea, and red wine, consider limiting your intake or drinking them through a straw to bypass your tooth enamel.
Popcorn
Popcorn by itself is not actually a health risk, assuming you don’t load up on the salt and butter. The risk comes when you chomp down on unpopped kernels, which can damage your teeth or dental restorations like dental bridges, crowns or fillings. So don’t get into the habit of eating every single piece found at the bottom of your popcorn bucket, including hard corn kernels.
Soda Pop
There’s nothing wrong with an occasional indulgence in a sugary soda pop. You just need to keep in mind that these popular drinks carry a double whammy: sugar and acidity. The acidity eats away at your tooth enamel, making your teeth more susceptible to the effects of the sugar, which promotes the growth of oral bacteria that cause tooth decay.
Protect your smile today! Schedule a dental health consultation. New patients are welcome.
