Worst Foods That Can Damage Your Oral Health

The food that we eat has a big impact on our oral and overall health. You may have noticed that after eating certain foods, your gums start bleeding, or your teeth become sensitive. This is because you may have eaten some food that is harmful to your oral and overall health. Listed below are a few worst foods that can damage your dental health.

Sticky foods

Sticky foods are some of the worst foods for your teeth because they can cause tooth decay and cavities. When you eat sticky foods, the sugars inside them stay in your mouth for a long time. The bacteria that live in your mouth feast on these sugars and produce acid as a byproduct of their digestion process. This toxic acid attacks your tooth enamel and causes decay. Over time, this decay can weaken the tooth structure, leading to toothaches and the need for root canal treatment or tooth extraction.

The best way to avoid cavities when eating sticky foods is to limit your intake of these foods as much as possible. If you must eat them, try to brush your teeth after you’re done to improve your oral health. You can also rinse your mouth with water to help remove leftover food particles and acids.

Hard foods

Did you know that not all foods are created equal? Some foods, like hard candies and ice, are downright dangerous to your teeth and mouth! Hard foods can break teeth, damage tooth fillings, or irritate the soft tissue in your mouth. Try to avoid giving in to temptation with these types of things if you can.

Sugary foods

When bacteria feed on sugar, they produce acid as a byproduct. This acid is a corrosive substance that weakens the enamel and causes tooth decay and cavities. Unfortunately, there are many common foods that are loaded with sugars, including cookies, cakes, candy, soda, and juice. It’s best to limit your intake and choose healthier alternatives when possible.

Acidic foods

In addition to sugary foods, acidic foods can also damage your teeth. While some acidic foods are healthy for you in moderation, too much acidity from your diet can actually wear away your tooth’s enamel. Some common acidic foods include lemons, oranges, pickles, tomatoes, coffee, onions, and certain wines. If you consume these foods often, try rinsing your mouth out with water after you eat or drinking a glass of milk to neutralize some of the acids in your mouth. You can also avoid eating these foods at mealtimes and try having these acidic foods as part of a snack instead.

Some of the acidic foods you need to avoid from your diet include the following: 

• Tomatoes
• Oranges and other citrus fruits
• Soda
• Sports drinks
• Bottled water
• Coffee
• Wine
• Tea
• Pickled foods 

To learn more, please reach out to our dental practice at(509) 946-9313 or schedule an appointment, and we'll guide you further. You can visit us at 90 Columbia Point Drive, Richland, WA 99352, to have a consultation with our dentists.