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| Image Source: Likeable Dentist |
It is a widely-held belief that soda will eat holes in your teeth. Soda is harmful for your teeth because of its acidity and the amount of sugar it contains. The acid wears away at dental enamel that protects the nerve, dentin and pulp within each tooth. Sugars also provide food for acid-producing bacteria. The more often you drink soda, the more food you are providing to bacteria.
In addition to soda, there are plenty of other foods and beverages that are just as harmful for your teeth. The top five worst foods for your teeth include:
1. Dried Fruit - Dried fruit is preferable to candy as a snack, but it still contains high amounts of sugar. Dried fruit also sticks easily between the teeth. If you do eat dried fruit as a snack, have a toothpick handy or brush your teeth soon afterward.
2. Sugary Drinks - Soda is known as a destroyer of teeth, but other sugar-containing beverages are just as culpable. Sports drinks and even juices can contain comparable amounts of sugar and acid. If you must drink a sugary drink, drink it quickly. Taking sips gradually exposes your teeth continually to layers of acid.
3. Hard Candy - Hard candies stick to teeth and must be held in the mouth for a long time. This lengthy consumption time guarantees food for bacteria for the entire time that you’re eating — and for a long time afterward.
4. Alcohol - Saliva is one of your body’s best defenses against acid-producing bacteria. Alcohol decreases saliva production and is corrosive to the teeth, gums and skin of the mouth.
5. Starchy Foods - Foods like bread and potato chips are starches. Bacteria in the mouth are skilled at breaking down starches into sugars. Starchy foods frequently get caught in the teeth, feeding bacteria long after the meal is over.
The best foods for your mouth include items that protect tooth enamel and or have a high water content. Cheeses, meats, nuts and milk fall into the first category. These foods replace calcium and phosphorus that is lost through bacterial demineralization. Demineralization can weaken teeth and leave them prone to cavities.
Foods that are high in water include firm and crunchy fruits and vegetables such as apples, pears and celery. The water content dilutes the sugars that these foods contain, helping to promote the flow of saliva.
Acidic or harmful foods should be eaten as part of a larger meal. Be sure to drink plenty of fluoridated water, milk or unsweetened tea along with these foods and snacks. These beverages will wash food particles out of your mouth and serve as a buffering agent against acids.
