A poor diet filled with food such as candy, cookies, and sugar-filled soda can lead you to develop oral health problems, such as gum disease and cavities. However, believe it or not, there are many “healthy foods” that can further damage your oral health. Below are a few of these foods that you should watch out for.
Citrus fruit
Citrus fruits, such as lemons and oranges are high in acidity, which can degrade your teeth and wear down your enamel. When drinking these types of beverages, use a straw to prevent it from coating your teeth and causing damage. You should also brush your teeth 20 minutes after eating citrus fruit to cleanse your mouth of the acidity.
Red wine
Although red wine has a few health benefits when consumed in small doses, those don’t exactly match up when it comes to your teeth. Red wine is well known to stain teeth, in addition to having a high content of both acid and sugar.
Apples
Apples are indeed good for your teeth, but they can also cause teeth erosion and gum problems. Recent dental studies have shown that apples are high in acidity and sugar, which causes teeth erosion. But, your mouth should be safe if you eat the fruit in small amounts and brush afterward.
Popcorn
Even if you go for all-natural popcorn brands, it can still severely damage your teeth. Popcorn kernels are prone to stick in between your teeth and can be difficult to remove, even with floss. Plus, the longer the kernels stay lodged in your teeth, the more bacteria growth it can cause.
White bread
Be careful when eating white bread. Not only is it high in carbs, which can help you put on unnecessary weight, but it also easily breaks apart in your mouth and lodges in between your teeth, similar to popcorn kernels.
Dried fruit
Though fruit is good for your health, it is also high in sugar. Dried fruits are especially bad for your teeth because they are so gooey and sticky. This means that the sugar sits on your teeth for hours after eating.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are very acidic similar to citrus fruits. This causes tooth enamel to erode. This goes for raw tomatoes and tomato products like sauces, soups, and pizza.
Condiments & sauces
Though some sauces and condiments are healthy, many contain high amounts of sugar. Make sure you read over the ingredients label before grabbing some ketchup, pasta sauce, salad dressing, or barbecue sauce for your dinner. To make things worse, many people do not realize that these items are so high in sugar. Because of this, they neglect to brush their teeth immediately after eating, which means the sugar is just sitting on their teeth.
Pickles
Pickles and other foods that are pickled hold large amounts of vinegar. This makes pickles very acidic which can erode enamel. After eating pickles, make sure you drink plenty of water, use mouthwash, or brush your teeth.
Berries
Even though raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries all contain high amounts of antioxidants, they are also very pigmented. Their strong, dark colours lead to teeth staining. This is especially true when the pigments are allowed to sit on your teeth after eating them. Remember, the same is true for raw berries and the foods that contain them like pies and muffins. If you frequently eat berries, make sure to schedule a cleaning with Tewantin Dental Centre in Noosa or a reputable dental centre near you today.
Peanut butter
Peanut butter contains a lot of sugar which can lead to cavities. Additionally, it easily gets stuck to your mouth and teeth. This makes it difficult to brush off your teeth. After eating this snack, make sure you brush and floss to remove all excess peanut butter.
Take note of the points we’ve discussed in this article and ensure you maintain healthy teeth.
