When it comes to having a healthy smile and mouth, it is necessary to be vigilant in the consistency of properly caring for your teeth. What exactly does maintaining a healthy smile and mouth entail? It means brushing your teeth at least twice a day, flossing at least once a day, visiting your family dentist in Irving for a checkup and cleaning twice a year, never using your teeth as tools, and, what we will be telling you about today, avoiding consumption of certain foods that are bad for your teeth.
In order to prevent your teeth from building up with plaque, to keep those teeth and gums healthy, you may want to consider avoiding the following:
#1 Sour candies
Those yummy candies that make our tongues go, “weeee!” Well, turns out, they aren’t so exciting for your teeth. Surely you have heard how sugar is horrible for your teeth, but sour candy is actually even worse than regular sweet candy. Not only is sour candy full of sugar, but it also contains various acidities that are harmful to your teeth. Also, in consideration of the texture of the candy, the chewiness means they are more likely to stick to your teeth which means your teeth are more at bay for tooth decay.
#2 Carbonated drinks
Just like you have probably heard how sugar is bad for your teeth, you have probably heard how soda is basically the number one bad guy. Recent studies suggest that not only is the sugary kind bad, but even the diet kind. How? Well, turns out that carbonated sodas help plaque to generate more acid in order to destroy your tooth enamel.
#3 Ice
One of the worst and most common habits people have is chewing on ice. Chewing on any hard substance can hurt the enamel on your teeth and are one of the leading causes to chipped, cracked, broken, teeth, and even undone crowns.
#4 Alcohol
One of the problems with drinking alcohol is that it has a tendency to dry out your mouth. With a lack of saliva, food is more prone to stick to your teeth, etc. Saliva is necessary for a healthy mouth and clean teeth. It helps to keep your mouth hydrated as well as to prevent tooth decay, gum disease, etc.
#5 Citrus fruits
Unfortunately, citrus fruits are very high in acidity, which is no good for your teeth. Acid contributes to the erosion of your tooth enamel, which makes them more prone to cavities, etc.
#6 Potato chips & bread
The problem with these foods is the high levels of starch. When starch enters the body, it becomes sugar and this can stick to teeth and feed the bacteria that live in plaque. Make sure to brush and floss your teeth prior if you do dig into a bag of potato chips.
#7 Dr.ied Fruits
Although dried fruits can make for a healthy, high energy snack, the problem is that they are sticky. And with any sticky foods, the issue is of the particles sticking to your teeth. Any time food stays around longer on your teeth than when you are just chewing it, then you are in for a problem, especially if it is a food that is high in sugar. If you do eat dried fruits, just make sure to brush and floss your teeth afterward to ensure no sticky substance gets left behind.
If you have more questions about proper tooth care, you will want to make sure to ask your Irving dentist. You should also make sure to visit twice a year for checkups and cleanings. If you are looking for a trusted and caring dentist, here at Cosmetic and Family Dentistry of Las Colinas, we can be just that. Contact us or come by today and let our caring team of dental experts help to keep you and your family smiling.
