Do you think twice about what you’re eating and how it affects your health?
You’re probably well-aware how certain foods affect you weight and wellbeing. However, there are some foods out there that are terrible for your oral health.
Read on for our top 5 worst foods for your oral health:
Dried fruits
Snacking on dried fruit and nuts is often the go-to for people trying to be stick to a healthy diet. However dried fruits are highly concentrated in sugar and tend to be sticky – clinging to your teeth. Not ideal! If you find yourself eating dried fruit often, make sure to rinse with water and to brush and floss carefully.
Lollypops
Technically all sweets/candy are bad for your teeth. However, if we were to pick just one type, it would be lollypops. Frequency of exposure increases chance of harm to teeth – think how long it takes to suck on a lollypop. It’s more than just a couple of minutes! Hard lollies like lollypops also put your teeth at risk because in addition to being full of sugar, they can also cause a dental emergency such as a broken or chipped tooth.
Citrus
A rich source of Vitamin C, citrus is great for your health in many ways. However, anything citrus contains ascorbic acid which will cause long-term enamel damage. Grapefruit and lemon juice are highly acidic and can soften and erode tooth enamel over time.
Ice
Ok, technically not a food! But chewing on ice can be extremely damaging for your teeth. Yes, ice is water and contains no sugar, however it can leave your teeth vulnerable to a dental emergency and damage enamel. Keep ice for chilling, not chewing.
White bread
Starchy, refined carbohydrates such as white bread can be as harmful to your teeth as lollies. Like crackers and chips, the texture of simple carbohydrates turns “gummy” after chewing, getting stuck in your teeth. Simple carbohydrates can linger in your mouth and then break down into simple sugars. Bacteria feed on these sugars and produce acid, which causes tooth decay.