The Worst Foods For Your Teeth

It’s so important to care for our teeth properly, and one of the best ways to do this is to prevent cavities and decay before they happen. Considering that our diets have a huge influence on the health of our teeth, it can help to understand what kinds of food and drink may be damaging. So in this week’s article, we’ll be running through three key categories of food and drink to limit in your diet.

Highly acidic foods

Foods with a low pH rating- otherwise known as acidic foods- can be extremely damaging to your teeth. This is because acids can erode the enamel on your teeth, which can weaken and, over time, damage your teeth. From tooth decay, to cavities, discolouration or staining acidic foods are not your teeth’s friends.

Examples of highly acidic food include; lemon, alcohol, coffee, tomato and pickles.

Foods high in sugar

So, most people know that sugar is bad for our teeth, but why exactly? The reason sugar is so damaging to the health of our teeth is because the bad bacteria in your mouth feeds off sugar to create acid that may erode the enamel on your teeth. In this way, sugar is often the initial trigger for tooth cavities. While it’s pretty much impossible to cut out all sugar, it’s best to limit your sugar intake, especially when it comes to refined sugars.

Examples of foods that are high in sugar include; soft drinks, jams, lollies, desserts, dried fruit.

Refined carbohydrates

Refined carbohydrates such as white bread, chips, or pasta are known to be bad for our diets, but they are especially bad for our teeth as well. Refined carbs turn to sugar as soon as they enter your mouth, triggering acid production by the bad bacteria that is present in your mouth.

Examples of refined carbohydrates include; white bread, chips, pasta, sugary cereals, white rice.

When it comes to food and drink that damage your teeth, the worst culprits include soft drink, sugary drinks, alcohol, coffee, sticky or chewy candy, sour candy, popcorn and citrus fruits. But it’s possible to treat our teeth well, by choosing better alternatives and by caring for our teeth through brushing and flossing properly.

Eden Rise Dental are a local dentist in Berwick, and offer high quality treatment. Get in touch by calling 03 9702 6111 today.