It’s no longer hidden that what you eat can be seen in your general health. And the same case is with your dental health. Many foods and beverages can cause dental problems, such as plaque which leads to serious damage to your teeth. For example, when you eat sugary food, the sugar triggers the bacteria to release harmful acids, attacking your tooth’s enamel.
The broken enamel broken then results in cavity development and tooth pain. While it is a good idea to see a dentist for the treatment of such dental problems, why not minimize the consumption of the foods that are harmful to your teeth?
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Potato Chips
Who doesn’t like to enjoy a crunch of potato chips? While a pack of chips has an eternally satisfying taste, they are full of starch which becomes sugar and gets trapped between the teeth, feeding the bacteria in the plaque. Acid production from potato chips can lead to painful dental problems if left unattended in your teeth for a while. After you have had a packet of chips, do not take too long to brush and floss to eliminate the trapped particles.
Hard Candies
Hard candies may seem harmless to many, eating too many can be harmful to your dental health. These sugary items can also trigger certain dental emergencies like a broken tooth. It’s better to minimize its consumption or go for sugar-free gum with the ADA seal.
Alcohol
Alcohol consumption is not healthy. It also dries out your mouth, resulting in the lack of saliva which is necessary to keep teeth healthy. Saliva doesn’t let food stick to your teeth and carries food particles away. It is also beneficial for removing early signs of gum diseases, tooth decay, and other dental problems. Therefore, avoid alcohol consumption and drink plenty of water to keep your mouth hydrated.
Carbonated Drinks
Just like alcohol, consuming large quantities of carbonated soda is injurious to your oral health. Carbonated sodas allow plaque to produce more acid which eventually attacks tooth enamel and leads to a painful dental condition. It means excessive consumption of carbonated drinks coats your teeth in acid, dries out your mouth, and lacks saliva. Plus, dark-colored sodas can stain or discolor your teeth.
Bread
You may be wondering how bread can cause a dental problem. But eating white bread can be harmful to your mouth. When you chew on white bread, the starches are broken down into sugar, transforming into a gummy paste type substance. This paste sticks to the crevices between your teeth and can lead to cavity development. What’s the alternative? Look for some less-refined options, such as whole wheat since they have less sugar and take time to break down.
Ice
It’s a common misconception that ice is good for their mouth because it is made of water and doesn’t have any sugar or harmful substances. However, chewing on hard substances like ice can leave your teeth at risk of a dental emergency, such as damaged enamel, loosened crowns, and cracked or broken teeth. You can enjoy the ice in a water form or use it to chill beverages but do not chew on it.
