9 Foods Bad for Your Teeth to Avoid
September 18, 2024
Knowing what foods are bad for your teeth is a great way to make sure that you are caring for them properly. While you don’t have to completely eliminate foods from your diet, it is good to know what to do to lower your risks of any potential dental problems that could come from those foods while preserving your smile.
Why Are Certain Foods Bad for Teeth?
Your oral health is just as important as your overall health. When you eat certain foods, it can be hard to maintain healthy teeth and gums. The American Dental Association recommends that you choose foods that are rich in nutrients such as vitamins A, C, D, E, and K plus minerals like calcium and phosphorus to promote dental health.
Here’s why some foods are bad for your oral health.
Make You More Prone to Gum Disease
Acidic foods and foods with added sugar can contribute to gum disease and other oral infections. Sports drinks, energy drinks, and starchy foods are just some of the things to avoid to keep your teeth healthy.
Trap Food Particles in Between Your Teeth
Popcorn may be recommended for healthy snacking, but it can get stuck between your teeth. It’s not the only culprit that can undo your best efforts for healthy teeth. Even dried fruits and other foods can deposit food particles between your teeth, allowing harmful bacteria to thrive.
Acidic Foods Can Cause Tooth Decay
You may know that sugary treats can cause tooth decay, but acidic foods can do even more damage. Beyond tooth decay, acidic foods can erode tooth enamel, making you more prone to dental problems.
9 Foods Bad for Your Teeth
1. Coffee
While coffee is healthy in its natural form, it is the addition of sugary additives that make it unhealthy. Two things to keep in mind are that coffee can stain your teeth and caffeine can dry out your mouth. Your mouth needs saliva flow to help sweep away plaque bacteria. A dry mouth can make the problem worse.
- Toothsaving Tip: use a straw to keep coffee from staining your teeth and make sure to drink plenty of water to keep your mouth hydrated!
2. Popcorn
Popcorn is a popular snack that can lead to some not so enjoyable tooth problems. Chewing on hard food, such as popcorn kernels can cause teeth to crack, or even break. It can also damage any restorations you have done on your teeth, or even cause a gum abscess if a hull gets stuck and isn’t taken care of
- Toothsaving Tip: if you choose to eat popcorn, make sure that you floss afterward to get all the remnants of the popcorn out, including the hulls. As you are munching, watch carefully for any unpopped kernels that may be lingering in the bag as chomping on them can cause you to chip or damage your teeth.
3. Citrus Fruits
While citrus foods are packed with Vitamin C, the acidity from the citric acid in them can cause erosion of your enamel which makes your teeth more susceptible to tooth decay. They can also worsen mouth sores. Dried fruit can be problematic in its own way because it’s chewy while canned fruit often has added sugar. Be aware when you’re choosing what you think is a healthy choice!
- Toothsaving Tip: eat or drink any citrus with a meal, and be sure to rinse your mouth out when you have finished.
4. Sour Candies
Sour candies are full of sugar, are often chewy. They contain different kinds of acidic ingredients than their sweet counterpart. It’s no surprise that candy isn’t good for your teeth, but understanding that any chewy candies or sticky candies, particularly sour candies, can stick to your teeth and have added acidity may come as a surprise.
- Toothsaving Tip: if you are craving something sweet, try to avoid sour candy because it can be just as chewy and sticky. Chocolate or even ice cream is easier to wash off your teeth to keep them healthy. Even better, choose dark chocolate to get health benefits for your body and your mouth.
5. Soda/Soft Drinks
Soda is extremely acidic and full of sugar, and diet soda is no better with all its artificial sweeteners. If you drink carbonated soft drinks a few times throughout your day, you are coating your teeth in a layer of sugary acid that will cling to your teeth, potentially causing rapid decay. They can also dry out your mouth and stain your teeth.
- Toothsaving Tip: after you finish your soda, rinse your mouth out with water. Do not brush your teeth immediately following as it can actually speed up the damage to your enamel. Also, drink soda with a straw to bypass most of your mouth.
6. Bread
While bread is not typically seen as something bad for your teeth, it breaks down quickly and turns into sugars that can linger in your mouth. Gummy white bread tends to have a higher sugar content thus making it harder on your teeth
- Toothsaving Tip: consider switching from white bread to whole grain bread which contains less sugar and takes longer to break down.
7. All Sugary Foods and Sugary Drinks
If you want to protect your teeth from tooth decay and save your tooth enamel, cut out all sports drinks, fruit juices, and soda. Sugary drinks cause bacteria in your mouth to release acids that attack your vulnerable enamel. Drink plenty of water instead, and swap in foods with health benefits rather than sugary foods.
- Toothsaving Tip: foods and drinks that are loaded with sugar are among the worst foods to eat. Limit these foods to prevent tooth decay and save them for a special occasion, such as your birthday.
8. Potato Chips
Potato chips are refined carbohydrates, in the same class as crackers, breads, cookies, and desserts. Due to the starch in potato chips, your tooth enamel can be compromised.
- Toothsaving Tip: prevent enamel erosion by snacking healthier. Nuts give a satisfying crunch like a potato chip while providing your body with wholesome nutrition.
9. Hard Candies
Hard candies are one of the worst foods there is because they can erode enamel, cause tooth decay, and increase acid production in your mouth. They can also lead to broken teeth, which will mean an emergency visit to your dentist.
- Toothsaving Tip: don’t make the mistake of swapping hard candy with ice. When you chew ice, this hard texture can damage your teeth and gums. If you must chew on something, choose sugarless gum. It will help promote saliva production to wash away the bacteria that cause tooth decay.
Tips for Promoting Your Best Overall Oral Health
Now that you know the foods to avoid, you’ll be able to maintain a beautiful smile. Remember, skip the sports drinks, dried fruits, and acidic fruits and fight plaque buildup. If you want a healthy snack, make sure to choose foods to improve oral health instead.
Many foods we eat are not as healthy as we think, and it’s wise to know which ones you should eat less and which you should eat more. Dairy products, for example, are one food group that is wonderful for making teeth strong. However, choosing smart options like plain yogurt rather than flavored yogurt can help you start making choices that boost the health of your mouth.
Don’t forget to follow oral hygiene tips. These include brushing twice daily, flossing, and turning to oral hydration solutions to reduce dental plaque. Make sure you drink water with your meals and between them too to flush away food particles. The things you do can help you not damage enamel and prevent tooth loss as well as bad breath.
Know the early signs of trouble by making sure you visit your Charlotte, NC, dentist. At Park Crossing Dentistry, we are committed to dental care for your whole family. We treat our patients like family. If you’re looking for dental offices in Pineville, you’ll find ours a welcoming place with the latest technology to meet your needs.
We want our patients to take care of their teeth, which is why we provide these tips to help you understand that the foods you eat and the beverages you drink play a vital role in your oral health. Schedule a dental exam or cleaning with us today and let us help you have more to smile about!