Top 10 Foods That Contribute to Tooth Decay and How to Avoid Them

Protect your teeth from tooth decay.

Eat Healthy To Avoid Tooth Decay

Eating a proper and balanced diet is the best way to maintain a healthy body, and that includes your teeth. You can help keep your teeth in proper shape by eating foods packed with vitamins and nutrients. And just like eating the right foods are important, eating the wrong foods can cause your oral health to be affected in the long term.

Tooth decay happens when the acid in your mouth eats away at the enamel, the hard outer layer, of the tooth. While acids occur naturally in your mouth, when they are combined with sugars and starches from the foods you eat and drink, acid production increases in your mouth. And if your teeth are exposed to these acids for a prolonged period of time, they can cause tooth decay. That is why dentists recommend sipping on water throughout the day instead of juices or soft drinks. If tooth decay is left untreated, it can lead to cavities and other dental issues.

What are the 10 foods to avoid?

Not only is it important to eat healthy and maintain a healthy diet for your overall health, but a healthy diet can be beneficial to your oral health as well.

However, if you are looking to improve your overall oral health, here are some foods that you should avoid because they can contribute to tooth decay.

1. Sugary Candy and Sweets: Candy and sweets are loaded with sugars, which, when combined with the naturally occurring saliva in your mouth, can create excess acids that can eat away at the tooth’s enamel with prolonged exposure.

2. Soda and Sugary Drinks: Just like the sugars in candies and sweets, the prolonged exposure to sugars from sodas and sugary drinks can cause damage to the enamel of the tooth. If you drink these beverages, dentists recommend drinking them during a meal instead of sipping on them throughout the day. Dentists also say to rinse your mouth out with water after you are finished drinking these beverages to help stop the creation of acids in your mouth.

3. Citrus Fruits: While citrus fruits are full of vitamins that are part of a healthy diet, they are also highly acidic. That acid can lead to tooth decay if there is prolonged exposure. Remember to brush your teeth after meals with citrus fruits to help combat tooth decay.

4. Dried Fruits: Dried fruits contain a lot of sugar. Not to mention, they are stickier than fresh fruit. That means that these foods are more likely to stick to your teeth, which can cause erosion of the enamel.

5. Chips And Crackers: Chips and crackers are full of starches, which, when combined with the natural acids in your mouth, create sugars that can eat away at the tooth’s enamel. The way that chips and crackers dissolve in the mouth makes them easier to get stuck between teeth, which can lead to tooth decay if not brushed away.

6. Ice: Ice is on this list for a different reason. If you chew or bite down on ice just right, it can cause cracks or even chip a tooth, which exposes the enamel layer, making tooth decay easier to form.

7. Sticky Foods: Any food that is sticky, like caramel or gummy candy, is food that should be avoided. Not only can the sticky substances become stuck to dental work, like fillings and braces, but the sugars and starches can lead to tooth decay if a proper oral health routine isn’t followed.

8. Bread: Bread is full of carbohydrates, and those turn into sugars as they are broken down. Those sugars can—you guessed it—lead to tooth decay if they are exposed to your teeth for long periods of time.

9. Alcohol: Alcohol breaks down into sugars when it is processed, which we know is bad for your teeth in the long run. Many mixed drinks and cocktails use sugar-ladened mixtures, which are also bad for your dental health.

10. Coffee And Tea: Many people add sugar to their coffee or tea, which is what makes these beverages bad for your dental health. Coffee and tea also contain tannins, which stick to the teeth and cause staining over time.

Combat tooth decay with a proper oral health routine.

One way to help combat tooth decay is by having a proper oral health routine. This includes brushing your teeth at least twice a day for a minimum of two minutes, making sure to pay attention to all surfaces of your teeth, including the backs of teeth. Dentists also recommend flossing at least once a day. Flossing helps to remove any food particles that may be stuck between teeth or below the gumline.

If you are looking to keep your teeth’s enamel strong, look for toothpaste or mouthwash that is fortified with fluoride. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that can help bolster enamel and protect your teeth.

Visit Valley Dental Clinic biannually.

We all know that having a good oral health routine can help to keep your teeth strong and healthy, but you should also be visiting Wasilla’s Valley Dental Clinic at least twice a year for dental evaluations. This allows our team to check your teeth and catch any issues before they become dental problems. Schedule your appointment today!