Taking care of your teeth goes much further than simply brushing them and flossing them everyday. Everyone should be aware of what foods are harmful to their teeth, too. Ingredients like sugar, starch, and citrus are known to erode tooth enamel and weaken your teeth over time. To avoid this, lets take a look at 8 of the most harmful foods and drinks you can consume that can be harmful to your oral health.
Sodas
It’s no secret that sodas are packed with sugar. Some sodas even have up to 12 teaspoons of sugar – 12 teaspoons of sugar for one serving! Sugar eats away at your teeth by eroding tooth enamel. Combined with the fact that sodas are a compliment to most unhealthy meals, you may want to reconsider this choice of beverage.
Coffee
Have you ever had a go-to coffee mug that you use each and every day? Well, then you may have noticed how hard it is to get the permanent coffee stains out of the mug while trying to clean it. If coffee can do this to a mug, imagine what it can do to your teeth.
Red wine
Stains. Stains. Stains. Much like coffee, red wine is also known to be very effective at staining your pearly whites.
Citrus-packed fruits
Fruits like oranges, grapefruit, and lemons are packed with citrus. Citrus is highly acidic and can cause irreversible damage to tooth enamel. Consume in moderation.
Sports Drinks
Sugar is quickly absorbed into the blood stream and sent to the muscles for repair almost immediately. This is why sports drinks are packed with it – having a high-sugar sports drink right after a workout is great for recovery, but bad for your teeth.
Alcohol
Combined with the fact that alcohol can be packed with sugar, it also dehydrates the body. You’ll notice this sometimes when you wake up with a dry mouth after a night of drinking. Well, this lack of saliva production caused by alcohol consumption is a deadly combo when considering the fact that alcohol can also be packed with sugar – meaning, the acidic effects of sugar on the teeth become more prevalent when your body is dehydrated and you have less saliva in your mouth to protect them.
White Bread
White bread is full of “empty” calories and refined carbohydrates, but what most people don’t understand is how it also negatively affects your teeth. Starch is quickly broken down into sugar, which then erodes the teeth. So, if you’re eating sandwiches with white bread multiple times a day, it may be a good idea to switch one of your meals out with a healthy choice of bread, such as whole wheat bread.
Ice
Don’t get us wrong – ice is a great complimentary to almost any beverage. However, the problem with ice comes from actually chewing it. When your enamel has become weakened by the combination of all of the foods on this list, chewing a rock-hard ice cube can lead to breaks, cracks, and even emergency dental situations.
Although, these 8 foods have been proven to be harmful to your teeth for a variety of reasons – we’re not saying you should completely cut them out from your life forever. You can still enjoy a glass of wine and a hot cup of coffee from time to time. Just be mindful not to overdo it – for your teeth’s sake!