4 Surprising Foods That Can Harm Your Smile

By Author: Ali Albeer
Total Articles: 54
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By now, you’ve probably heard that sugar is bad for your teeth. Many dentists warn about the dangers of having too much candy, particularly sticky or hard, and encourage patients to limit how much sugar patients eat every day. But there are other foods that could lead to cavities that may surprise you! Here are just four of them.
Bread
Did you know that a food can still pose a threat to your oral health even if it doesn’t contain a ton of sugar? Bread, crackers, potato chips, and other carb-heavy foods start to break down in the mouth similarly to sugar. As a result, the bacteria in your mouth can thrive on these foods just as easily as sweets.
Dried Fruit
At first glance, dried fruit may seem like a convenient and healthy way to enjoy fruit on the go. However, without the moisture in it, dried fruit becomes sticky and can become more difficult to remove from teeth. Plus, the natural sugar content is more concentrated in dried fruit!
Sports Drinks
Although sports drinks are advertised to replace necessary electrolytes, the commercials don’t tell you that these drinks have quite a bit ...
... of sugar in them. Sugar-free water is, by far, the best beverage to have before, during, and after a workout. If you do have sports drinks, your dentist recommends swishing your mouth with water to help rinse away the sugar particles.
Citrus Fruit
Oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit all offer great natural sources of Vitamin C, but they are also very acidic. Too much acid in your mouth erodes tooth enamel and leads to decay. When you eat one of these types of fruit, be sure to take a few sips of water to help neutralize those acids.
To be honest, it may not be easy or even possible to avoid these foods entirely, but you can try to limit the amount you include them in your diet. Knowing that they could affect your oral health can also help you take the right precautions, like excellent oral hygiene and regular dental visits, to protect your smile.