Many dentists will agree that your diet is one of the most essential parts of having good oral health. Many people know that sugary foods are harmful and that foods rich in calcium are beneficial. The common consensus is that sweets cause cavities, and coffee stains your teeth. However, there are many foods that could unexpectedly be damaging your teeth. These seemingly harmless food choices could be negatively impacting your oral health and causing major dental issues. Be wary of the following foods if you want to have good dental health.
Dried Fruit
Many people use dried fruit such as raisins, apricots and cranberries as a natural substitute for sweets. They are easy to carry around, and are sweet, satisfying the common craving for sugary food. However, fruit has a lot of natural sugars, which means they could be speeding up the rate of tooth decay. Because dried fruit is very sticky, it is easier to get lodged in the spaces between your teeth, which gives bacteria more scope to damage your teeth. It also means it is harder to clean away from your mouth. Try to think about how much dried fruit you may be consuming, and how it may affect your dental health.
Diet Soda
A lot of people who experience persistent dental issues often switch to diet sodas in order to limit the amount of sugar they consume. On the surface, they have a lot less sugar, which means they are a seemingly healthier option. All fizzy drinks include phosphoric and citric acids, which erode the natural enamel on your teeth. Diet sodas may actually have a higher acid content than regular, full-sugar sodas. This could be especially harmful if you’re drinking it over a long period of time, as the acid will sit on your teeth.
Herbal Tea
Many people say that to avoid regular coffee and tea staining your teeth, you should instead start drinking herbal teas. It is a long-believed misconception. Chamomile, peppermint and green teas have a high amount of tannic acid. Tannic acid is an antioxidant, however, it sticks to your teeth’s plaque and causes yellowing. While there are many health benefits when it comes to drinking herbal tea, such as heart health and digestion, it can be just as harmful to your teeth as regular black tea. Try to drink plenty of water in order to flush away the damaging chemicals from sticking to your teeth.
White Wine
If you struggle with staining, many people recommend switching to white wine instead of red. However, a leading Cheltenham dentist has warned people of the connection between white wine and tooth decay. The acids in white wine still break down your natural tooth enamel, leaving your teeth exposed to the possibility of staining. Try to rinse after drinking all wine to mitigate the amount of damage done to your teeth.
If some of your favourite foods and drinks are on this list, don’t worry. You can still enjoy all of your favourite things, as long as you’re smart about it. Rinsing or brushing after consuming these foods will reduce the amount of exposure your teeth get to these harmful acids, and will help to mitigate oral damage