6 Worst Foods For Your Oral Health

Eating healthy is important for your overall health, and it can also benefit your dental health. However, there are certain foods that are not good for your teeth. If you are concerned about your dental health, then you should avoid eating the following foods. Here is a list of some foods and drinks that can badly affect your oral health.

• Sugary Foods

Sodas, candy, and other sticky sweets stick to your teeth as you eat them, creating a breeding ground for bacteria and increasing your risk of tooth decay. If you don’t brush and floss regularly after eating these food items, you are at even greater risk for cavities! Consider rinsing your mouth with water or chewing sugarless gum after you eat sugary foods to help remove food particles from your smile.

• Candy

Candies aren’t just bad for your overall health; they’re bad for your oral and overall health as well. Sticky candies like gummy bears and caramels can get stuck between teeth and promote plaque buildup. Hard candies can also break your enamel and cause other damage to your teeth. It’s best to avoid eating candy whenever possible to protect your oral health, but if you do sneak a piece here and there, make sure to rinse out your mouth with water afterward. You can also chew sugar-free gum to wash away any leftover food particles in your mouth and increase your saliva production. Saliva helps to neutralize acids that could damage your teeth and rinse away harmful bacteria that could be hiding in hard-to-reach places on your smile.

• Sticky Snacks

When it comes to snacks, chewy pretzels are some of the worst offenders because they are able to stick to the surfaces of your teeth for long periods of time. These starchy snacks can also lead to plaque buildup and increase your chances of developing gum disease. If you do indulge in a pretzel, be sure to thoroughly brush your teeth right afterward to remove leftover particles that could cause damage to your smile. 

• Starchy Foods

It’s easy to imagine that starchy foods can’t affect your smile, but you’d be wrong. The bacteria that collect on your teeth after eating starchy foods can feed off the sugar in the food and produce acids that can erode your tooth enamel. It can also promote tooth decay and gum disease.

Although you can technically eat starch in moderation, it’s best to avoid eating these foods altogether if possible. They can be found in many types of snack foods, including potato chips, pretzels, popcorn, bread, and many baked goods. These aren’t the only foods that harm your oral health, either. Any type of junk food or food eaten in excess can affect your smile’s health.

• Dry Foods

One of the worst things for your teeth is dry foods, such as crackers and chips. These foods tend to be very sticky, which means that they cling to the teeth for a long time after they have just been eaten. The longer anything is in contact with your teeth, the more detrimental it can be to your oral health. Therefore, try to eat foods that are low in sugar or don’t stick to your teeth for too long. When you have a snack with this type of food, try to brush your teeth right afterward to cut down on the amount of time the tooth is exposed to the harmful substance. This can help to reduce your risk for cavities and other oral health problems.

• Alcohol

Since alcohol also leaves your mouth feeling dry and can dry out your body’s mucous membranes, it can increase your risk of dry mouth. A dry mouth can cause bad breath, a burning or tingling sensation in the mouth, difficulty chewing, and an increased risk of cavities. It also makes an existing case of bad breath even worse! Additionally, alcohol can also increase your risk of oral cancer. The carcinogens in alcohol can damage the DNA of your oral tissues, causing mutations that can lead to cancer. Drinking heavily also increases your risk of facial fractures—from drunken brawls or other accidents—which can be very painful and costly to fix.

Schedule an appointment with McConnell Dental Care if you notice any symptoms of gum disease. Visit us at 263 Country Club Dr #102, Stansbury Park, UT 84074. Contact us at (435) 249-0482 or visit our website to book an appointment with us.