Your teeth are an important part of your personality. When you meet someone, your smile is going to be your first impression on that person. Dental caries or tooth decay stands in the way of you and a perfect smile. Sinking our teeth in our favorite dessert may be the most satisfying feeling in the world, but when consumed out of moderation it can be a cause of a toothache. If we avoid certain foods or eat them in moderation, we can save ourselves from a lifetime of dental pain and tooth decay.
What is not good for your teeth?
1. Candy:
Candies are sticky and sugary sweets that stick between the teeth and are difficult to get rid off. They are the biggest enemy of our teeth and should be avoided at all cost. The sugar in candies makes our teeth more prone to caries and their sticky nature means we can’t get them off our teeth completely once they are consumed.
2. Coffee:
Coffee is acidic in nature. When consumed, it lowers the pH of the oral cavity. This causes the enamel to erode, which makes our teeth brittle and susceptible to caries. Moreover, coffee is a dark drink, leaves stains on the teeth. These stains require professional cleaning to get rid off.
3. Cold Drinks:
Cold drinks or soft drinks contain high amounts of sugar. Apart from that, they are made of carbonated water, which makes them acidic. When combined, they attack the enamel of our teeth, making them brittle. Each sip of soft drink starts a chemical reaction that damages our teeth for 20 minutes and sipping them all day only keeps our teeth under constant attack.
4. Red Wine:
Red wine has long been put on a pedestal as being good for your health, however, like with any other dark drink, they leave a stain on our teeth. Red wine is also acidic which wears down the enamel and can expose the dentine underneath. Add to that the alcohol content of the drink which has been linked with increased risk of mouth cancer.
5. Lemons:
Lemons don’t cause cavities per say. They are good for our health and promote healthy gums. But they contain citric acid which harms our enamel and wears them down. So what can we do? Have a glass of water after consuming lemons to wash them off the tooth surface, this way you can get all the benefits of lemon and also protect your teeth.
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6. Tomatoes:
Like any other acidic food, tomatoes are also bad for your teeth. It makes your enamel porous. Obviously, when eaten as a part of a meal, the acidity of tomatoes is reduced. Drinking a glass of water after consuming them also helps to maintain the pH of your mouth.
7. White bread:
White bread is made from refined flour which sticks to the teeth and is difficult to clean off. White bread is pure carbohydrate which when consumed breaks down into sugars in the oral cavity and exposes our teeth to sugar acids.
8.Dry fruits:
Dry fruits are considered a healthy snack, but what we overlook is the fact is that they are sticky. Sticky food tends to damage the teeth since it stays on the tooth surface for long. If you wanna eat dry fruits, make sure you rinse and brush your mouth thoroughly afterward.
9. Potato Chips:
Potato chips are full of starch and are easily trapped between the teeth. This makes them an ideal food for the bacteria to attack and cause dental caries. If you find yourself reaching for a bag of chips, floss and brush properly afterward to remove all debris and build up.
10. Pickles :
Most pickles use vinegar or some other form of acidic base to preserve. This makes them a harmful food for our teeth. Contrary to other suggestions. Brushing after eating something acidic should be avoided at all costs since our enamel is weak after consuming the acidic food and brushing after that would only cause rapid wearing.
Unlike most parts of our body, our teeth cannot repair themselves. So, it is necessary to take care of them and ensure that any dental problem is caught at an early stage. Apart from eating and avoiding the right foods, following proper oral hygiene and regular dental visits are also important.