Ten Food And Drinks That Can Decay Your Tooth


Are you looking at any tips for good dental care? Then this article may help you to guide to know about the foods that you must avoid for good dental health.

Foods and drinks are crucial to our existence; they sustain us by delivering essential nutrients and nourishment. However, not all foods and beverages are created equal; some are healthy, rich and wholesome and excellent for our overall health and vigour. Others are tasty, but fail to meet the bar of goodness.

Food that Decays Your Teeth


You're probably aware that certain foods and drinks have a terrible impact on our physical wellbeing. But, what most of us don't realise is that certain foods and drinks can be damaging to our oral health, especially our dental health.
Let's take hard to chew foods – they can damage the tooth enamel and cause the teeth the chip or crack. Some people chew bones, while some others chew ice cubes, which can cause tiny fissures on the teeth. Other hard foods, such as hard candy or boiled sweets, have a similar effect. They are doubly dangerous as they are sweet and sticky and can cause the teeth to decay.
Sugar-laden, sticky foods and drinks can cause dental caries, causing permanent damage to the teeth. Such foods tend to stick in between the teeth, creating an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive. Bacteria feed on the sugar deposits and multiply in numbers; soon it begins gnawing at the enamel, destroying the teeth. Sugary drinks create an almost similar state.
Starchy foods also stick to the teeth and turn into sugar, allowing the buildup of plaque. Potato chips, bread and biscuits, etc., can be the reason for plaque formation on the teeth. Plaque buildup can lead to tooth decay, gum disease and staining.
We often associate sugary treats with tooth decay, little realising that acidic foods and drinks are as harmful. Acidic foods and beverages can wear your tooth enamel, really quick. High levels of acids in our meals and drinks are just as destructive. From citrus fruits and tamarind to aerated drinks and wines, all these foods and beverages can erode the enamel, causing sensitivity, dental caries and discolouring.
Therefore, it wouldn't be wrong to state that our dental health is directly related to what we eat and drink. The right foods and drinks can keep the teeth and gums strong and healthy, while the wrong foods and beverages can ruin our dental health.

Ten worst food and drinks for dental health


Some foods boost dental health and some spell trouble. Ten everyday foods and drinks that you must be cautious of, because of their propensity of being harmful to teeth are:
  • Dry fruits : While dry fruits are healthy, and offer multiple health benefits, they also have a bad side. All dry fruits are rich in concentrated sugars and are naturally sticky. They tend to stick to the teeth, thereby making them vulnerable to decay. It would help if you were watchful of figs, raisins, dates, apricots, candied peel, cherries and prunes etc.

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  • Citric fruits : Their acidic content makes citric foods bad for the teeth. Oranges, grapefruits, lemons and limes and tangerines can cause your teeth to wear down.

  • Aerated drinks : Also known as carbonated drinks, these drinks are a lethal combination of sugar and acid that can damage your teeth more quickly than any other food or drink. Colas stain the teeth are dehydrating and the sugars in them feed the bacteria in the mouth, while the acid attacks the enamel, hastening the decay.

  • Bread : The bread and buns that you eat are made from processed flour and are extremely starchy. The saliva in your mouth converts the starch into sugar, which becomes trapped between the teeth, creating a receptive environment for tooth damaging bacteria to breed.

  • Alcohol : Alcohol restricts the secretion of saliva in the mouth, resulting in a dry mouth. A dry mouth is more prone to oral infections, gum disease and tooth decay because there isn't enough saliva in the mouth to stop sticky foods particles from lodging between the teeth.

  • Wine : All wines are acidic and harmful for tooth enamel.

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  • Fruit juices : Packaged fruit juices are often artificially sweetened and hence bad for the teeth. Natural juices, without artificial flavouring, can be highly acidic, especially juices of oranges, apples, pomegranates, grapes, peaches, tomatoes and cranberry.

  • Cakes and muffins : Delicious cakes and muffins being starchy and sweet are the proverbial double whammy. They stick to the teeth and cause decay.

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  • Chocolates and candies : Chocolates, candies and other sweet delights, including Indian sweets, have very high sugar content. As explained, sugar-rich foods create an environment for bad bacteria to populate the mouth.

  • Potato chips : Packaged foods, such as potato wafers or chips and other snack items with excessive starch can stick to the surface of the teeth, leading to the formation of plaque.

Tooth decay caused by foods can be prevented with better oral hygiene, such as rinsing the mouth after each tooth-damaging meal. The other way out is to eat healthy foods that make the teeth strong. Foods that allow the formation of saliva are the best, as they help rinse the mouth.
Visit a dental clinic, and you will notice charts recommending what to eat to prevent cavities:
foods for dental health
  • Fibre-rich foods and veggies

  • Dairy, such as milk, curd and cheese

  • Black and green teas

  • Fluoride rich foods

  • Sugar-free chewing gums


  • For healthy teeth, a healthy dental regime is important. Brushing, flossing and rinsing after meals can help maintain good teeth. However, regular dental checkups are the key to good dental health. Your dentist can identify issues before they turn into dental caries. So visit the dental clinic in MG road Ernakulam to bring back the sparkle to your smile. Walk into Dentique, The Dental Studio for consultation and therapies.


Comments

Author: Umesh Chandra Bhatt03 Jun 2020 Member Level: Silver   Points : 3

People having sweet teeth often find that their teeth are infected and start decaying earlier than expected. One thing that is of prime importance in this matter is that time to time cleaning of teeth. One must clean the mouth after each meal or snacks however small in quantity it might be. It is a good habit and pays well in keeping the teeth healthy.



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