blog

Did you know food does affect your oral health? Eating the right foods can help keep your teeth healthy and prevent cavities. Conversely, eating the wrong foods can wreak havoc on your teeth. Here is a list of some common foods and beverages that are bad for our oral health:

• Sticky candies

Sticky candies such as caramels, taffy, and gumdrops cling to teeth. This can cause significant damage to your teeth and lead to tooth decay and cavities, especially if you don’t brush and floss immediately after the candy is consumed.

• Chewing ice

On a hot summer day, nothing sounds better than a frozen, crackling ice cube. But chewing ice can be very damaging to your teeth. Ice is extremely hard, and chewing on it can cause damage. Even soft ice cream can cause damage, as the cold temperature can impact your enamel. It’s best to avoid chewing on your ice cubes and limit chewing on cold foods in general. 

• Acidic foods

Acidic foods can erode tooth enamel and damage restorations. These include citrus, tomato sauce, lemons, limes, pickles, and grapefruit. 

• Sugary foods

Eating foods that are high in sugar can increase your risk of tooth decay. Bacteria in the mouth feed on the sugars from foods and drinks, producing harmful acids that attack the teeth. This can cause tooth decay and cavities.

• Alcoholic beverages

Alcoholic beverages can be very acidic. They’re also very sugary. These two factors work together to do a lot of damage to your teeth. Alcohol increases the production of acid in your mouth. This acid breaks down the enamel on your teeth, leaving you vulnerable to tooth decay.

• Coffee

Although your morning coffee may be your favorite part of the day, it’s one of the worst foods for your oral health. Coffee is full of tannins and acids that wear away your enamel. Additionally, coffee increases your risk of tooth erosion. It’s important to limit your coffee consumption to one cup per day.

• Tobacco products

Tobacco use can greatly increase your risk of developing gum disease, tooth decay, and oral cancer. If you use tobacco, your annual dental checkups become even more important because your dentist will be able to catch oral health issues before they develop into bigger problems.

• Sodas

Sodas are popular beverages that can cause damage to your teeth. The acidity and carbonation of soda can cause erosion of tooth enamel and increase the likelihood of tooth decay. The sugar and dyes in soda can also impact your teeth.

To learn more about good oral care habits, please reach out to the dental office located in San Mateo, CA 94401 at (650) 342-8618, and we’ll be happy to help.