5 Foods That Are Bad for Teeth

At Oakboro Family Dentistry, Dr. Bobo and the rest of our team strive to give our patients the quality dental care they need along with the knowledge to help them protect and preserve their oral health. Often, this means educating our patients on one of the most important facets of their health: their diet. It probably comes as no surprise that foods high in sugar are bad for your teeth – we’ve all grown up hearing this. However, there are other foods that can also harm your teeth.

Bread

You may be surprised to find bread on this list, but the bacteria in your mouth actually break down and process the starches in bread just like sugar. The acid left behind can wear down your enamel and lead to cavities.

Citrus

While vitamin C is an important part of a healthy diet, the acid contained in citrus can erode and weaken the enamel on your teeth, leading to tooth decay and other problems. Consume citrus in moderation, and rinse your mouth with water afterward to limit the effects of the acid.

Sour Candies

Sour candy also contains acids that will wear down your enamel and cause decay. Even worse, sour candy often sticks on and in-between your teeth, giving bacteria ample time to feast and add to the damaging acid already present in the candy.

Ice

Sure, ice may not technically be a food – and we do not advise consuming it like one. If you chew on ice as a boredom-buster, you’re as likely to crack or chip a tooth as you would be chewing on any other hard surface.

Dried Fruit

You may be noticing a theme here: in general, foods that are particularly hard or sticky can be harmful to your teeth. Dried fruit can get stuck on your teeth and leave behind sugar that bacteria consumes, and damaging acid is produced as a by-product of your oral bacteria’s insatiable appetite.

We Can Help You Make Mouth-Healthy Food Choices!

Categorised in: Healthy Diet, Preventive Dentistry