Your teeth are made of some strong stuff, but they’re not indestructible. While they are supposed to be “permanent”, there’s a lot of things that can damage your teeth, but one of the things that catch most people off guard is food. What you eat plays a big role in your oral health, so if you want to maintain a full, healthy smile, make sure you pay attention to what you eat and take extra care if you think about eating any of these following foods:
Hard Candy
Hard candy is among the most potentially damaging foods you can eat. Lollipops and similar hard candies can be incredibly tough on your teeth. Not only are they full of sugar that can create damaging acid and bacteria, the hard, sticky texture even has the potential to chip or break tooth enamel.
Sticky Snacks
Sticky food in general can be very hard on teeth. Dried fruits, chewy candy, and other foods of similar texture are hard to chew. The small particles easily get stuck between teeth where they can be hard to dislodge. As these food particles remain on your teeth, they form harmful bacteria and plaque that will slowly but surly start to break down your teeth, leading to tooth decay and gum disease.
Citrus Fruits and Other Acidic Treats
Citrus fruits are colorful and delicious, but these fruits have a naturally acidic character that can gradually damage tooth enamel; this is especially true for people who already have weakened enamel. Citrus fruits include:
- Grapefruit
- Lemons
- Limes
- Oranges
- Tangerines
While fruits do contain a lot of vitamins and minerals that are good for you, the key is being smart about how often you eat citrus. If you have trouble limiting how much you eat, at least try to brush your teeth and use mouthwash after eating to ensure you clean away all of the leftover acid and food particles.
Added Sugar
People add sugar to many different foods and drinks. Breakfast cereal, oatmeal and other hot cereals, coffee, tea, fruit smoothies, and other snacks are augmented with a spoonful or two of sugar. All this added sugar is bad for teeth and can have other unhealthy consequences, too. Eliminate these extra helpings of sugar and cut back on empty calories at the same time.
Ice
Chewing on ice might seem like a harmless nervous habit, but those hard cubes can be very rough on teeth. If you enjoy ice water, make a conscious effort to leave the ice in the glass where it belongs.
Contact Us With Your Questions
If you have questions or concerns about the effect your favorite snacks have on your teeth or braces, contact us at Pristera Orthodontics!