5 Foods and Drinks That Could Be Damaging or Staining Your Teeth

Last updated 1 year ago

Family dentistry experts agree that what you eat makes a difference regarding your oral health. While food and drinks rich in calcium or phosphorus can help strengthen your teeth, foods high in sugar have the opposite effect. Anyone currently undergoing orthodontic treatment is especially at risk, because his or her braces give bacteria more places to hide. By cutting down on the following foods and drinks, you can help maintain your teeth’s health:

1. Soft Drinks

Soft drinks should be consumed in moderation or eliminated from your diet completely. Full of sugar and high in citric acid, soft drinks contain zero nutritional benefits. If consumed on a regular basis, dark-colored sodas can also stain your teeth.

2. Candy

Whether chewy or hard, candy is bad for your teeth. The softer varieties stick to your enamel and contribute to tooth decay. Hard candy, on the other hand, takes a while to dissolve. Therefore, those sugars remain in your mouth for long periods of time, which can contribute to bacteria building in the mouth. Either way, eating less candy in your diet will result in fewer cavities at your next appointment with your family dentist.

3. Dried Fruit

Once the water content is removed from fresh fruit, the concentrated sugars can damage teeth just as badly as candy does. Like caramels and other chewy sweets, dried fruit can also get stuck between teeth.

4. Alcohol

Beer and wine have a drying effect on the mouth, which increases bacteria. Red wine can also stain enamel. To avoid these harmful tendencies, consume alcohol in moderation and the alternate alcoholic drinks with water.

5. Ice

Though drinking water is wonderful for your teeth, eating ice has the opposite effect. Chewing ice can break your enamel and damage your teeth, which is why it’s best to avoid crunching on ice.

Though a good oral hygiene routine of brushing and flossing helps keep your teeth healthy, your diet can have a significant effect on your oral health. The dental experts at Baker Family Dental in Mesa, AZ can teach you healthy teeth tips to keep your smile bright. Call us today at (480) 719-3044 for more information.