Introduction To Oral Hygiene

Flossing and brushing your teeth are just not enough to maintain good oral hygiene. Regular visits to the dentist are also a must so that any tooth decay can be detected in its early stages and is treated accordingly. Our diet also has a major role to play in the maintenance of our oral hygiene.

While growing up, we were told not to consume too much candy and chocolates as our teeth will go bad. However, that is not the case; it is not just chocolates and candies that are bad for our teeth, some other foods and beverages can be harmful to our teeth in the long run. Some of these foods have been mentioned below. However, it might be difficult to completely omit these foods from your diet, but you can limit their consumption.

Foods And Beverages That Are Bad For Your Teeth

This list is not just limited to desserts, chocolates, candies, and carbonated drinks; there are other foods too, which are generally not considered to be harmful to your teeth.

The 7 foods that are bad for your teeth include:

Citrus Fruits

From a dietary point of view, citrus fruits are essential to get your daily dose of vitamin C, but they are harmful to your teeth. The juicy citrus fruits, such as oranges, grapefruits, and lemons, are highly acidic, that can cause the erosion of your top tooth layer known as the enamel. While having citrus juices, you can use a straw to help minimize the contact of the juice with your teeth.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has gained a lot of popularity, amongst fitness freaks, since it aids in weight loss. Although this claim might be true to a certain extent, it is harmful to your teeth. Apple cider vinegar, on its own, is very acidic, that can cause erosion of the top tooth layer over time. However, if you still wish to consume apple cider vinegar, you should chug it down, instead of sipping on it. It should be diluted enough with water to help reduce the acidic nature of the vinegar, helping to reduce its harmful effect on teeth. Using a straw can also be beneficial.

Pickles

Pickles, on their own or with burrito bowls or tacos, add a little extra flavor to your food but are not good for your teeth in the long run. Due to their acidic nature, they can cause the wearing off of your tooth structure and may even cause staining of your teeth. Most pickles also have a high sugar content in them to help reduce their acidic content.

Dried Fruits

Dried fruits have a jelly-like consistency which makes them more prone to stick to your teeth. Moreover, they have a high concentration of sugar, making your teeth more susceptible to caries.

Potato Chips

Crunchy and yummy, but they are highly loaded with starch, which is eventually broken down to sugar (glucose) by enzymes in our body. After chewing, the potato chips tend to stick in between teeth (interdentally) and get converted to plaque, if not cleaned timely. Bacteria in the plaque makes your teeth more susceptible to dental caries.

Tea And Coffee

The first dose of caffeine right after waking up hits differently. We do not even realize how difficult it is to function without tea or coffee throughout the day. Although caffeine helps to wake you up and makes you feel less tired, it is not good for your teeth. Too much consumption of tea and coffee, over time, will lead to discoloration of your teeth. To protect your pearly whites, you must limit your tea and coffee consumption. If that is a big challenge for you, then you can opt for getting laser teeth whitening from your dentist.

Sports Beverages

You must have seen your favorite athletes promoting sports beverages. These drinks are just a marketing gimmick and have no nutritional value as such. These sports beverages have a high sugar content and have a thick consistency, that tends to adhere to your tooth surface. These acidic and sugary beverages must be avoided during your workout sessions, and replacing them with water is a better idea.

Visit The Thornwood Family Dental Clinic

If you are looking for a state-of-the-art dental clinic, then you must visit the Thornwood Family Dental Clinic. The highly professional and qualified staff will provide you with the best treatment plan, at affordable rates, for all your dental problems. Contact them today to book an appointment with them.

Final Thoughts

Protecting your pearly whites and maintaining good oral hygiene requires you to make a few permanent changes to your diet. It may be a tad bit difficult to make these changes and completely avoid the above-mentioned foods, but with the right oral hygiene practices, the intensity of the damage can be reduced significantly. Thirty minutes after consuming these foods, you can rinse or brush your teeth to help protect the tooth surface.