According to Colgate, a person’s eating patterns and choices of treats to eat can contribute to tooth decay or even gum disease! In addition, your pearly whites can start to look yellow if you consume certain foods that have added ingredients with high pigments.
It’s very important to know and to pay attention to the foods that can cause harm to your teeth to minimize your risks of developing oral complications. Below are the top 10 foods that can have negative effects on your oral health and quick tips to preserve healthy teeth.
1. Popcorn –
Although this treat can be a healthy snack, it can also cause some damage to your teeth. These bad boys have kernels within them that can get stuck between your teeth and can be difficult to remove. The kernels can also cause irritation to the gums. As a result, it can lead to bacterial growth and other complications.
Quick Tip –
Rinse your mouth after eating popcorn by swishing mouthwash or water around your mouth and immediately floss your teeth. This way your mouth can remain clean and free from developing further oral difficulties.
2. Sticky Foods –
Consuming sticky foods require your jaw and tongue to work harder to remove the contents from your teeth. Failure to remove the sticky particles in your mouth can lead to a buildup of bacteria. Dentists consistently suggest brushing your teeth and flossing when consuming sticky foods in order to avoid further oral problems. Also, the high sugar content in these types of foods such as toffee or caramel can lead to cavities in the future if not removed properly. This is because the bacteria that is housed in your mouth loves the sugars that you eat. And as a result, they leave their waste called plaque on your teeth.
3. Carbonated Sugary Drinks –
It’s no secret that the consumption of carbonated drinks has increased dramatically in the United States, as well as the sugar added to them. This can be detrimental to the well-being of your body and particularly your oral health.
Quick Tip –
Substitute sugary sodas with water or water-infused fruit juices for a sweet taste.
4. White Bread –
The carbohydrates found in white bread turn into sugar once your saliva breaks them down. These sugars create large amounts of acid that break down the enamel of the teeth over time. Bread also sticks to your teeth making your jaw work harder to remove food particles from the crevices of the mouth.
5. Tomato Products –
The acidity level of tomato products can soften the enamel of your teeth, resulting in an increase in tooth sensitivity. Consumption of these foods can also lead to tooth decay if you overindulge over time. In addition, the tooth enamel is prone to stains because of its porous nature in combination with the effects that high pigments in the tomato can have. The acidity level of tomato products can soften the enamel of your teeth, resulting in an increase in tooth sensitivity. Consumption of these foods can also lead to tooth decay if you overindulge over time. In addition, the tooth enamel is prone to stains because of its porous nature in combination with the effects that high pigments in the tomato can have.
Quick Tip –
When you add pasta sauce into one of your holiday dishes, add more water to the sauce in order to decrease the acidity levels.
6. Coffee and Tea –
Both coffee and some tea have powerful staining properties that can hurt the enamel of the teeth. Your enamel is porous and is easily susceptible to get stained by any substance that consists of heavy pigments. Both coffee and some tea have powerful staining properties that can hurt the enamel of the teeth. Your enamel is porous and is easily susceptible to get stained by any substance that consists of heavy pigments.
Quick Tip –
Brush and floss your teeth after you drink tea or coffee, this can gently remove the staining contents off your teeth.
7. Curry –
Curry is absolutely delicious and very healthy for you but its high pigmented power turns everything it touches yellow. Your teeth aren’t left behind by the curry’s staining power. Curry is absolutely delicious and very healthy for you but its high pigmented power turns everything it touches yellow. Your teeth aren’t left behind by the curry’s staining power.
Quick Tip –
Drink water and swish it around your mouth and spit it out. That can help reduce the risks of the curry’s strong staining power.
8. Potato Chips –
Stay away from this addicting treat because it is loaded with starch. In time starch becomes sugar that bacteria in the mouth thrive off. As a result, it leaves plaque – a sticky bacteria that sticks to your teeth. If not removed in can turn into tartar and would require a dentist to remove it.
Stay away from this addicting treat because it is loaded with starch. In time starch becomes sugar that bacteria in the mouth thrive off. As a result, it leaves plaque – a sticky bacteria that sticks to your teeth. If not removed in can turn into tartar and would require a dentist to remove it.
9. Alcohol and Wine –
Alcohol is always the first drink choices that are grabbed at any party to consume. But keep in mind that both of these beverages can cause many issues to your oral health. Both of these substances can also cause your mouth to become dry and dehydrate your body. Bacteria prosper when the environment in the mouth is dry.
Alcohol is always the first drink choices that are grabbed at any party to consume. But keep in mind that both of these beverages can cause many issues to your oral health. Both of these substances can also cause your mouth to become dry and dehydrate your body. Bacteria prosper when the environment in the mouth is dry.
Quick Tip –
A good tip is to drink a cup of water after you drink alcohol or wine, this way your mouth and body is hydrated.
A good tip is to drink a cup of water after you drink alcohol or wine, this way your mouth and body is hydrated.
10. Hard Candy –
Although candy is a guilty pleasure for many, this treat can hurt your teeth. The sugar in these substances can cause tooth decay and even gingivitis.
Although candy is a guilty pleasure for many, this treat can hurt your teeth. The sugar in these substances can cause tooth decay and even gingivitis.
11. Apples –
Did you know that apples are considered the biggest culprit for chipping teeth? These fruits are great for your health because of its high fiber and can help remove stains from your teeth. The bad part is that apples are high in acid that can cause tooth sensitivity. The skin of the apple is also easy to get stuck in between your teeth, that can create further complications.
Did you know that apples are considered the biggest culprit for chipping teeth? These fruits are great for your health because of its high fiber and can help remove stains from your teeth. The bad part is that apples are high in acid that can cause tooth sensitivity. The skin of the apple is also easy to get stuck in between your teeth, that can create further complications.
Quick Tip –
Try cutting your apple into small pieces for easy consumption. Not only does cutting apples into bite size pieces promote allow for easier chewing, it also limits the apple skin from getting stuck in between your teeth.
Try cutting your apple into small pieces for easy consumption. Not only does cutting apples into bite size pieces promote allow for easier chewing, it also limits the apple skin from getting stuck in between your teeth.
12. High Pigmented Foods –
Some high pigmented foods can be very healthy like beats. The negative effect of these high pigmented foods is that they can stain your teeth.
Quick Tip – Remember to immediately rinse your mouth with warm water or mouthwash after you consume these foods during your holiday feast.
Remember to immediately rinse your mouth with warm water or mouthwash after you consume these foods during your holiday feast.
Contact Us Today –
Keeping your teeth healthy by refraining from the bad foods is essential if you want to maintain a smile free from complications such as periodontal disease. Our dentists, Dr. Edward Gottesman and Dr. Susan Karabin at Perionyc are dedicated to providing exceptional care to all of their patients. If you want to learn more about having great oral health call us today.
