Top 5 Worst Foods/Drinks for Your Teeth

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Dentist in Newport News, VA

newport news dentistIt is easy to eat or drink mindlessly without thinking about our teeth. We simply look at the food in front of us and disregard how it can affect our health. Here we look at the five worst foods/drinks for your teeth, so that next time you’re faced with these items, you’re conscious about how you’re affecting your body.

1) Lemons/Limes
Lemons and limes belong to a group of citrus fruits whose acidic nature can cause serious damage to your teeth. The high acidic is able to break down the enamel that protects your teeth. Over time, you’re left with very little protection from bacteria, leaving you with cavities.

2) Hard Candy
Not only can hard candy easily get stuck in between your teeth, the high sugar content makes your mouth and teeth perfect breeding grounds for bacterial reproduction. Since your mouth is already a perfect place for bacteria to replicate, you don’t want to add to the problem.

3) Alcohol
To a certain degree wine may be good for your heart, but it can be problematic for your teeth. Alcohol dries out the mouth and diminishes your saliva production levels. Salivation is a process that has numerous benefits, and slowing down the process can be hurtful to your teeth and your body. One of the many features of saliva is its ability to wash down the food particles in your mouth instead of letting it degrade on your teeth. Saliva also protects you from acidic foods.

4) Soda/Tea/Coffee
This one is no surprise. Soda is a combination of acidic and sugary ingredients. The two work great to breakdown the enamel in your teeth. Tea and coffee aren’t so great either. They too are able to break apart the protective layer surrounding your teeth, allowing the colored pigments to effectively change the color of your own teeth.

5) Dried Fruit
There aren’t too many food items that can get stuck in between your teeth as well as dried fruit. Without paying too much attention, dried fruit looks very harmless. They are fruit after all. What we don’t realize is their high sugar content and their sticky residue. As we breakdown the sugars from the dried fruit, an acidic byproduct breaks down our own teeth. This can eventually give way to cavities as well. Brush your teeth after eating dried fruit and you should be fine. Also, don’t forget to floss.