7 Foods That Negatively Impact Your Teeth

Most dentists say that 95% of oral diseases can be prevented by avoiding unhealthy foods. Our diet plays a very important role in not just our oral health, but also our overall well-being.

Plaque is formed mainly due to the food we consume. Plaque is a kind of bacteria that is responsible for a lot of gum diseases and tooth decay. Foods affect our teeth in other ways as well and is a main cause of gum disease.

Here are seven foods that negatively impact your teeth:

Potato Chips

Potato chips are among the hottest selling food items in the US, as we love to munch on this delicious food. But do you know they’re actually bad for the health of your teeth?

Potato chips are full of starch, which gets trapped in between your teeth and helps plaque grow. Additionally, it also excretes acids that weaken your teeth and can have a long-lasting, negative impact on your health.

Sticky and Chewy Candies

Candies that are sour, sugary, and sticky are loved by plaque found in our mouths. These candies are rich in sugar, and their sticky nature makes the sugar stick to your gums and teeth, resulting in damage to them over time.

If you eat sticky or chewy candies, brush your teeth properly and often, which can help prevent the sticky material from becoming glued to your teeth.

Dried Fruits

There’s no denying that dried fruits have tons of benefits, but are you aware of the side effects of consuming dried fruits?

Excessive consumption of dried fruits spells trouble. Most dried fruits are sticky in nature and are packed with high sugar content. Most of them are brimming with a big dose of natural sugars and non-soluble cellulose fiber which makes them as horrific to your teeth as chewy candy.

An alternative to dried fruits is to munch on fresh fruits that are clean and non-sticky.

White Bread

White bread is rich in carbohydrates that can be bad for your teeth. Once you take a bite, the enzymes in your saliva transform starch into sugar that gets stuck in between your teeth and can damage tooth enamel.

Vinegar

An excessive use of foods containing vinegar may lead to tooth decay. Rinsing your mouth after consuming vinegar-based foods helps you destroy the tiny bacteria that contribute to the erosion of teeth. However, a wise idea would be to consume vinegar in lesser amounts.

Canned Fruit

Canned fruits are different from natural fruits as they come with a lot of added sugars. This artificially added sugar can turn out be dangerous for your teeth and damage them.

It’s better to avoid canned fruits and only eat fresh fruits.

Popcorn

Popcorns can cause a lot of pain. The corn can get stuck in the empty spaces between your teeth and cause bacteria to grow. Unpopped kernels are more damaging as they’re very hard to chew and can cause severe tooth pain as well.

The best option is to avoid these foods or consume them in smaller amounts. In addition to this, make it a habit to brush after every meal so that no food particles get stuck in your mouth, regardless of what type of food you’re eating.

If you still have questions about the relationship between the food you eat and the health of your teeth, it would be wise to pay a visit to your dentist.