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Eating a healthy and nutritionally balanced diet is not only essential for keeping you physically fit, but it is equally important to make sure that you retain a sparkly white smile throughout life. It is said that you are what you eat! What you eat routinely can have a direct effect on your dental and physical health. Therefore, it is essential to know what types of foods can damage your teeth and smile. This article gives an overview of all the foods that you must avoid if you want to have pearly white and strong teeth.
Bread
Bread products have become a routine component of the everyday American diet. But did you know that excessive use of bread may be bad for your overall physical and dental health? When you eat bread, it is converted by the saliva into simpler sugars which tend to stick to the nooks and crannies between the adjacent teeth and cause teeth cavities.
Citrus Fruits
It is a common perception that fruits are good for our health. However, excess of anything is bad. The same is true for fruits. Citrus fruits like lemon and grapefruits are highly acidic in nature and they erode the dental enamel to cause teeth cavities and sensitivity.
Alcohol
Many people are now aware of the medical problems associated with excessive intake of alcoholic drinks. However, very few people know about its harmful effects on oral health. Alcohol intake results in impaired functioning of the salivary glands, leading to a condition called a dry mouth. The decreased amount of saliva released is not enough to optimally clean all the tooth surfaces, thereby resulting in teeth cavities. Another drawback of the dry mouth associated with alcohol is the development of “bad breath”.
Potato Chips
Who doesn’t love potato chips? While we Americans love to enjoy a bag full of those crunchy chips every now then, they may not be very good food for our health. Potato chips come loaded with starch. When we eat them, the chips are digested by the saliva into simpler sugars that adhere to our teeth and result in cavities and other dental problems.
Coffee and Tea
The first thing that helps us in completely opening our eyes is coffee! In fact, most of us cannot imagine starting our day without having our morning coffee or latte. But, let us look at how coffee is harmful to our teeth. Excessive intake of coffee and other beverages can result in the staining of our teeth, resulting in a negative impact on our smile and facial esthetics.
Popcorn
A movie night is incomplete without popcorns! While we can’t deny our love for the popcorns, we must also be aware of their damaging effects on our teeth. When we eat popcorns, small bits and pieces can get stuck between our teeth, which are extremely difficult to remove through brushing. If these food particles get stuck between the teeth for a long time, they can cause teeth cavities and periodontal problems.
Vinegar
Vinegar is an important ingredient of many American food such as pickles, potato chips, sauces, and salad dressings. Unfortunately, vinegar is acidic, and it can result in gradual damage to the dental enamel, making our teeth sensitive and more vulnerable to the development of teeth cavities.
Candies
Whether it’s the kids or the adults, we all love foods like candies alike! Regardless, when we eat them, they tend to stick to our teeth, and their high sugar content can cause cavities. Sore candies are even more harmful as they are acidic and are responsible for causing enamel degradation.
So, what’s the Solution?
Let’s admit it. We can’t stop eating our favorite treats. So, how can we ensure that we can enjoy our favorite foods while maintaining good oral health? Simply by maintaining a strict oral hygiene routine through brushing, flossing, and regular dental checkups. In addition, you should limit the frequency of intake of sugars and carbohydrates. The higher your frequency of sugar intake, the higher the chances of teeth cavities.
