When we talk about food habits we only talk about its impact on our body and ignore the fact that bad food habit can actually ruin our oral health. That’s why the effect our food choices have on our teeth should also be made a priority. We have compiled a list of 6 food items you eat on a daily basis that can be damaging to your teeth. You don’t need to completely cut them out of your life but remember to floss or rinse your mouth after eating them.
Here is the list of 6 food items you need to watch out for healthy teeth
1 Popcorn: Everybody loves popcorn while watching a movie in the theater but it’s important to be careful when eating. It irritates everyone when bits of popcorn can get caught between your teeth. Well, it’s not just irritating for you but can be harmful for your teeth also as bacteria can build up in between your teeth while the bits of popcorn sits there.
2 White Bread: Bread is the most common food item in this list of 6 food items you need to check upon for healthy teeth. Bread has starch in it which makes the bread so sticky that it starts breaking down into molecules of sugar before they are even digested. This means the longer the bread sits in your teeth, the more likely it is to turn to sugar and rot your tooth enamel.
3 Energy Drinks: This should be a pretty straight forward one. We all know energy drinks contain ample amount of sugar and caffeine, which are highly acidic in general and are worse than most soft drinks. Steer clear of energy drinks altogether and if you have to have one, be sure to rinse your mouth afterward with a mouthwash which is basic in pH.
4 Dry Fruits: This might come as a shock to you as these are full of great nutrients and energy to keep us fit. But the problem with certain dried fruits are that they are very high in sugar and can be very sticky, ending up being stuck between teeth and increasing risk of decay.
5 Potato Chips: Another virtually daily-use snack which children love to eat, chips also have starch in them which makes them so sticky that when they start breaking down, for digestion, into simpler sugars, they are still lying there on your teeth with the germs of prey.
6 Citrus Fruits: Fruits which are sour in taste like oranges, lemons, grapefruit, and limes are high on acid, especially when taken as juices. These can erode the enamel and cause tooth decay & enamel erosion (often manifesting as sensitivity). Although these fruits have essential vitamins and nutrients we would suggest you use a straw when you have either of these fruit juices next time.
