The foods and drinks you tend to consume daily have a great impact on your teeth and gums. It is essential to understand that if you don’t maintain a healthy diet, it affects your whole body including your oral cavity.
If you want to have healthy teeth and gums, you should visit the dental office regularly, maintain proper oral hygiene, and follow a healthy diet. In this article, we have gathered nine foods and drinks that can worsen your oral health.
1. Coffee
People who drink a lot of coffee usually undergo teeth whitening procedures more often since tannins in coffee tend to stain tooth enamel. Additionally, coffee contains acids that weaken your tooth enamel and make it more prone to staining and tooth decay. If you can’t give up your coffee addiction, try to limit the amount of coffee you consume daily and add some milk to it.
2. Candy
Sweets, especially candy, are deemed one of the worst foods for your teeth. People who have a sweet tooth are more prone to tooth decay since bacteria in your mouth prefer to multiply more actively in a sweet environment. Their vital activity results in acids that soften your tooth enamel and contribute to the development of cavities.
3. Dried fruits
Many people consider dried fruits as a healthy substitute for candy. But the reality is that most dried fruits contain a lot of sugar. In addition to this, dried fruits are sticky and can attach to your teeth. This can result in bacteria overgrowth.
4. Sweet soda
Sweet soda water has a great impact on your oral cavity. It contains a lot of sugar and acids. This dangerous combination creates a perfect environment for bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease. That’s why it is better to replace sweet soda with tea or sparkling water.
5. Tomato sauces
Tomatoes contain acids that soften your tooth enamel. But tomato sauces are even more dangerous because they contain sugar in addition to acids. Cheese or white sauces can become a healthy and tasty substitute for tomato sauces.
6. Crackers and cookies
Crackers and cookies usually contain sugar that affects your teeth and gums. But the main problem is that such foods tend to get stuck between your teeth. As a result, the particles of crackers or cookies linger in your mouth and feed on bacteria. That’s why it is better to limit their consumption or at least rinse your mouth with water after eating.
7. Red wine
Even though red wine has a lot of health benefits, it can also affect your teeth. It contains tannins that can make your teeth look red or purple. Additionally, red wine is an acidic drink that wears out your tooth enamel. Try to drink water after every sip of wine or eat hard cheese that helps normalize the pH in your oral cavity.
8. Citrus fruits
Citrus fruits are a great source of vitamins especially, vitamin C that is essential for your overall health. But the excessive consumption of citrus fruits or citrus juices can soften and wear out your tooth enamel.
9. Sports and energy drinks
Even though sports drinks are deemed healthy, they can contain sugar. That’s why you should check their composition. Energy drinks can do more harm than good since they contain acids and sugar at the same time.
The bottom line
If you will avoid or at least limit the consumption of the aforementioned foods and drinks, it will positively affect your oral health. You should also include more fresh fruits, vegetables, fatty fish, and hard cheese into your diet to supply your teeth and gums with necessary nutrients.
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