One of the most important things you can do to protect your teeth and gums is to eat a healthy diet, but it can be tricky to know what you should avoid! Many foods and drinks can damage the teeth and lead to problems with your dental health, and you can read on for more information about the worst culprits.
8 Foods That Are Terrible For Your Teeth
- Sticky foods. Did you know that dried fruit can be a major problem for teeth? You should drink plenty of water and
limit dried fruit consumption to certain times of day to prevent the sticky sugars remaining on your teeth for too long. - Hard sweets. Hard sweets tend to contain large amounts of sugar that can weaken and damage the enamel on
teeth, especially if it is on the teeth for long peri-ods of time. - Starchy foods. The starches in crunchy snacks such as crisps can get stuck between the teeth and lead to
a build up of plaque. Brushing and flossing daily are es-sential if you eat starchy snacks like this. - Fizzy drinks. Fizzy drinks, including sports drinks, are a leading cause of tooth decay, and cutting these
out will benefit your health in many ways. If you can, swap fizzy drinks for water, which is great for your body and helps to clean
debris from your mouth and teeth and wash bacteria away. - Some fruits. Many people are surprised that fruit can be bad for your teeth, but it is true that many
fruits are high in sugars. Citrus fruits contain high levels of acids, which can damage the enamel on your teeth if you consume them
very frequently, and fruit juices can cause the same problems, especially if left to sit on your teeth all day. - Ice. Chewing or crunching ice is a big no-no for teeth, and can lead to crack-ing, chipping and increased
sensitivity. - Alcohol. Alcohol is also very high in sugar, and can dry your mouth out and reduce your natural saliva
production. This can cause many problems for teeth, including an increased risk of tooth decay and infections of the mouth and gums,
and studies have also shown that heavy alcohol consumption can increase your risk of developing mouth cancer. - Tea and coffee. Tea and coffee are common culprits for staining teeth, and both contain caffeine that
dries out the mouth. Adding sugar to these drinks creates greater risk of damage to your teeth, and swapping some of your daily drinks
for pure water will have great benefits for your body and your teeth.
Find a Family Dentist In Ballincollig
As well as taking care to eat a healthy, balanced diet, it is very important to pro-tect your teeth by brushing twice daily and flossing daily. You should visit your dentist once or twice every year for a check up and a thorough clean, and you can talk to your dentist or dental hygienist about the best ways to prevent dental problems developing.
Here at Guiney Dental Clinic, we have a friendly team of practitioners who will take the time to ensure that you and your children feel comfortable in our practice, and we can help to protect your dental health for life. Call today on 021-481 0535.