10 FOODS THAT ARE HURTING YOUR TEETH …

Has anyone ever warned you about eating taffy and candy apples, and what it might due to that beautiful smile of yours? Those sticky treats are not the only thing ruining your smile and causing you to spend more time in the dentist chair.

1. Ice – you may be sitter here thinking ice really? Why yes even though ice is made of water, it is the cold hard consistency of the ice that strips the teeth of your enamel making them vulnerable to bacteria that can cause cavities. Crunching on the ice has been known to chip teeth and even crack fillings.
2. Bad carbohydrates -like your fitness guru will say eat more fiber, more protein, and fewer carbohydrates. When your body breaks down the carbohydrates, they become sugar. The bacterium that is living in your mouth thrives on the sugar that is broken down in your mouth. When the bacteria eats the sugar the bacteria produces acid that wears away at your teeth and causes tooth decay.
3. Citrus fruits –are great for keeping nasty colds at bay, but really do a number on your teeth. The citric acids in fruits wear away at the enamel on your teeth. It is good to keep in mind that when eating fruits to not brush right after, but to rinse with water during and after eating fruits and other foods with citric acid.
4. Sour foods – while we’re talking about acid, it’s important to understand that anything sour contains acid. Not only citrus, and candy have high acidity but some soups, sauerkraut, and buttermilk also contain acid. It is important to do water rinses during and after eating.
5. Coffee – may not come to you as surprise, because coffee is known to stain your teeth, but it is actually the sweeteners/sugar that people put in their coffee that harms your teeth due to the bacterium thriving on the sweeteners/ sugar. In addition the caffeine in the coffee dries out the mouth, which isn’t good either, because we need the saliva to prevent tooth decay by washing away the sugars and acid that builds up on the teeth.
6. Alcohol – is another cause of dry mouth. With excessive drinking over time the saliva production decreases and will eventually impair digestion. In addition to tooth decay because the saliva in our mouth is what helps aid in washing away the sugars and food that we ingest.
7. Sticky foods – are especially bad for your teeth, even in the smallest amount of stickiness in your food, because it stays on your teeth and feeds the decay-causing bacteria that form dental plaque.
8. Soda – really not much of a surprise to this list of bad things for your teeth. The sugar and acid in the soda eats away at your enamel and the sugar mixed with the bacteria in your mouth can cause tooth decay.
9. Kombucha – is getting a lot of buzz in the media for its health benefits. But, in the world of dentistry the popular fermented tea drink isn’t very good for your teeth. The tea contains a lot of acid, and the acid wears away enamel which can cause a number of issues for your teeth.
10. Crimson foods- hyperpigmented foods certainly will stain your teeth. These foods include things like; beets, berries, curry, soy sauce, and tomato sauce. The best way to avoid staining your teeth is by using a straw in addition to rinsing before, during meal, and after your meal.