Coffee, Soda & Wine, all of these and more should be avoided when proper oral health is pursued.
With as many different foods and beverages available that taste like it may have been created within heaven itself, it can be hard to stay away from them, and knowing which of those are worse to consume than others can be difficult. This is why we have decided to create this helpful guide, so that you may find this process to maintain a healthy smile as simple as possible. Let’s go through ten different foods and why they negatively affect your teeth.
1: Coffee
Consumed by millions of Americans every single day in the US alone, Coffee has become a staple of American life. It’s found in almost every diner and inside of almost every home, but beware — this tasty energy booster can cause a few not-so-great side-effects. The first one is that it can and will cause tooth staining in most, especially if it is consumed on a regular basis; more than a few times each week. Coffee also contains a considerable amount of caffeine, which can dry the mouth, ultimately leading to less saliva and more plaque and bacteria build-up.
2: Popcorn
This American favorite, while tasty and a great addition to any movie can cause damage and erosion to teeth, due to becoming lodged in between them. This causes sugars and other substances, like acid, to become stuck around the kernels, eventually leading to plaque and bacteria build-up.
3: Soda
Carbonated beverages, typically called Sodas, can cause major teeth erosion over time. This is due to the high amount of acidic properties within the drink, causing erosion of the enamel of the teeth. Sodas also contain large amounts of sugar, which gives bacteria a food source to feed on. The sugar also frequently causes plaque build-up and erodes the teeth even further, due to its ability to enter very small crevices, bringing the sugar and acid with it.
4: Sugary Treats
This should go without saying for most of you, but sugary treats, such as sour gummies or caramel candies, can wreak havoc on our teeth, largely due to the sugar not being fully dissolved — or simply by containing a very high amount of sugar. Some candies intended to serve one person may contain 5 teaspoons of sugar, so you could imagine the amount of erosion, plaque, and bacteria build-up that this could cause. Sugar-free candies usually do not have erosion as a side-effect of consumption, so give those a try — they are tastier than most think.
5: Energy Drinks
These kinds of beverages, especially the most common brands seen in stores, are extremely high in all sorts of acidic contents and contain a very large amount of sugar. This can cause major erosion and even tooth staining in time, obviously leading to an oral image not to be desired for. All of this causes build-up and bacteria, and will even cause a sort of transparent appearance surrounding each tooth.
6: Citrus Fruits
Any kind of citric food or beverage can often promote tooth erosion, as citrus fruits are extremely high in acidic properties. This is especially the case if eaten alone, without anything to help wash the acid down. When mixed with other food, the damage is normally minimized, but make sure to rinse the mouth if you regularly consume acidic fruits.
7: Wine
Just like Coffee and Sodas, Wine contains many acidic properties that can cause tooth erosion. Oftentimes, wine is consumed in a scenario where brushing and rinsing may not be on the agenda anytime soon, which gives the acidic contents of the wine plenty of time to sit and erode the teeth. Wine can also cause major staining of the teeth, both caused by erosion and the dye affects inside of the beverage.
8: Saltine Crackers
This may be a surprise, but these crackers can absolutely cause damage to the teeth as once chewed, turn into a sticky substance. This can become stuck both in between and behind teeth, leading to a buildup of plaque and bacteria resulting in tooth decay.
9: Sticky Foods
This could be anything — from any kind of fruit, candy or any other food that has a chewy and sticky texture. Sticky foods cause erosion by the inability to completely dissolve or move out from in between the teeth, leading to plaque and bacteria overgrowth near the site.
10: Chewing Ice
Although ice is made completely of water, it can still cause damage by simply causing either fine or large cracks in the teeth. This can be a slow or fast process, allowing sugar and other substances to work its way into finding cracks much more easily. It is best to avoid eating ice, if at all possible.