Do you enjoy eating sugary foods or sipping on a refreshing drink? If the answer is yes, you are not alone. Most people enjoy eating or drinking their favorite treats. However, certain foods and drinks can wreak havoc on your oral health.

• Sugary Foods

Added sugar can really do a number on your teeth and gums! As a sticky substance, it contributes to plaque buildup and increases your risk for gingivitis. The bacteria in your mouth feed off sugar to produce acids that attack your tooth enamel and cause decay. Also, the sugar sticks to your teeth long after you’ve eaten – the longer it stays on your teeth, the more harm it does to your pearly whites.

• Hard Candy

Many dentists consider hard candies as the worst foods for your oral health. Not only are they loaded with sugar, but they can also chip or crack your enamel. Even if you can chew them slowly and dissolve them in your mouth, they can still cause serious damage to your teeth and gums. Plus, they are very sticky, which means that they will be difficult to remove from your teeth when you eat them. This can lead to cavities and gum disease.

Hard candies can also cause severe damage to braces. They can break brackets or even bend wires, which will require a visit to the orthodontist to fix the problem. Braces are not cheap, so it is important to avoid eating hard candies when you have braces on.

If you do eat hard candy or another food that is especially bad for your oral health, be sure to brush your teeth well and rinse your mouth out with water right away to wash away bacteria and sugars that can harm your teeth. If you can’t brush immediately after eating something, rinse your mouth out to prevent decay and other oral health issues.

• Soft Drinks

The carbonation in soft drinks erodes tooth enamel, leaving teeth vulnerable to bacteria that can cause cavities and tooth decay. Drinking cold soda also causes the body’s blood vessels to constrict, which decreases the flow of saliva in the mouth. When there’s no flow of saliva, the plaque has more time to build up on the surfaces of the teeth. The high sugar content of most carbonated drinks also increases the risk of tooth decay. To protect your smile, it’s best to avoid or limit the consumption of soft drinks. Water is always the best choice for staying hydrated! If you do enjoy the occasional soft drink, rinse your mouth out with water after enjoying your drink, as this will wash away any acids in your mouth that could harm your teeth.

• Coffee and Tea

Coffee and tea are some of the worst things for your dental health because they contain tannins which can leave unsightly stains on your teeth. The beverage also has properties that erode your tooth enamel over time.

When you drink coffee or tea, the pigments enter your mouth and can stain your teeth or get stuck in your teeth and gums. Additionally, drinks like coffee can have a negative impact on your oral health because it contains caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant that causes increases in heart rate and blood pressure. It can also dry out your mouth, which can lead to tooth decay. Another negative side effect associated with drinking coffee is dehydration. Dehydration can lead to poor overall health and dry mouth, which increases the risk of cavities. So, instead of drinking these beverages, try drinking water as a healthy alternative!

• Wine

Red wine and white wine are both highly acidic and can be damaging to your teeth and gums. Both red and white wine contain tannins and other astringents that damage your tooth enamel. Red wine is also higher in acid than white wine, so it affects your teeth more. The sugar in wine can also cause tooth decay on top of affecting your oral health. Drinking too much alcohol can also affect your sleeping patterns which can, in turn, have negative effects on your oral hygiene routine.

If you must drink, make sure to rinse your mouth with water afterward and drink plenty of water throughout the rest of the day as well. You can also use mouthwash to help reduce the effects of acidity on your teeth while drinking your favorite vintage!

• Sports Drinks

If you’re an avid athlete or gym-goer, you know the importance of staying hydrated. But did you know that sports drinks aren’t the best for your teeth? Sure, they keep you healthy and energized, but they also contain a lot of acids that can wear away tooth enamel and cause decay.

Sports drinks are high in acid and sugar, both of which are bad for your oral health. In fact, many sugar-free brands still contain acids that are just as damaging to your enamel as regular versions. The high level of acidity can cause early tooth decay, cavities, or even damage to the nerves in your teeth. Try drinking water to stay hydrated instead! If you must have a sports drink, drink it through a straw to limit the contact it has with your tooth enamel.

• Crackers

When considering foods that can harm teeth, crackers are often the first snack that comes to mind. Some crackers are loaded with sugar or starch and may cause tooth decay. Anyone with a dry mouth should especially avoid these snacks as saliva is needed to wash away food particles. If you are eating a hard, sweetened cracker, be sure to drink a glass of water to wash it down and avoid allowing sugars to sit on your teeth for too long.

To learn more about good oral care, contact Focus Dental Group at (801) 255-7101 or visit our dental office located at 6770 S 900 E Suite 301, Midvale, UT 84047.