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Worst Foods For Your Oral Health
Our bodies need food in order to function. While eating the right kinds of food gives our bodies the vitamins and minerals it needs, eating the wrong kinds of food can actually cause health problems. This includes several types of dental issues as well. Here is a list of foods and drinks that can adversely affect our tooth enamel:
- Sugar
When you consume sugar, the oral bacteria use it to create acids that wear away at your tooth enamel. When you have less enamel, your teeth are more vulnerable to decay.
- Starchy Foods
Starchy foods, such as pasta, bread, and similar foods, can break down into sugar. This sugar can get trapped in your teeth and gums, feeding the bacteria that can cause cavities and gum disease. Starchy foods can also get stuck in between teeth, making it hard to clean them properly. This can lead to plaque buildup and dental cavities.
- Alcohol
Drinking alcohol can dry out your mouth, which makes you more susceptible to gum disease and tooth decay. Even if you don't notice your mouth drying out, alcohol can still contribute to tooth decay and gum disease. Alcohol also interferes with your body's ability to absorb nutrients, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies.
- Tobacco
Smoking or using tobacco products is one of the worst things you can do for your oral health. Tobacco can damage your teeth, leading to problems like tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss. It also causes discoloration and bad breath, taking away from your confidence and making you less likely to smile.
- Coffee
Coffee is one of the most commonly consumed beverages in the world. But, coffee also stains your teeth and can dry out your mouth. When you drink coffee, the drink seeps into the cracks and crevices in your teeth, causing stains. This happens because the tannins in coffee are what cause stains. Drinking coffee can also dry out your mouth. This is because it is acidic and due to tannins. This can cause bad breath, tooth decay, and dental health issues.
- Sports Drinks
Sports drinks and other sugary beverages aren't good for your oral health. Not only do they contribute to obesity, but the sugar in these beverages can also damage enamel. When you consume sugary beverages, the sugar sits on your teeth and eats away at your enamel. Over time, this can lead to severe damage, like cavities and tooth loss.
- Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits, like lemons, oranges, and limes, contain lots of vitamin C and citric acid. While vitamin C is good for you, too much citric acid can erode your enamel. Too much acidity in your mouth can also destroy tooth enamel. When you eat citrus fruits, the high levels of acidity usually stay on your teeth rather than diluting. This makes them more likely to erode the enamel on your teeth.
For more oral tips, please reach out to our dental practice in Manteca, CA, to have a consultation with our family dentist. Please call us at (209) 823-9218 or schedule an online consultation, and we'll guide you further.