Six Foods And Drinks That Can Harm Your Teeth

Regulating what you eat and drink plays an important part in maintaining a healthy mouth

The prime purpose of our teeth is to break down food so that we can eat and obtain the necessary nutrition in order not only to survive, but to do so in a healthy manner. A healthy set of teeth not only enables us to do this but to also get pleasure from doing so.

There is little worse than seeing an item on a menu that you really want to eat but realise that it will prove a challenge for your teeth, often resulting in choosing something else.

We have discussed many times before, the importance of cleaning your teeth well to keep them healthy, but what we put into our mouth can also have a significant effect on both teeth and gums and we would all do well to think a little bit more about what we eat and drink.

Here then, in no particular order, is the Cygnet Dental Practice ‘top 6’ of foods and drinks that should either be avoided or eaten/drunk very sparingly.

‘Sports’ drinks

These probably do deserve the number one spot and, for some time, have been considered to be a major contributor to tooth decay. Whilst anything containing sugar is bad for your teeth, the fact that these contain a lot of it and can also be highly acidic make them one of the worst offenders. In addition to this, as we drink them, they pass directly over and through the front teeth. Enamel erosion is a likely consequence of over indulgence in this type of drink. We recommend that our Wickford patients avoid these and drink water for hydration as much as possible instead.

Sour sweets

These seem to be very popular with children (and a lot of adults) at the moment. Perhaps it is the ‘shock’ value of the sourness that appeals before that subsides and leaves you with a sweet taste in the mouth. As you would expect, these sweets contain a lot of sugar but the acidity used to create the sourness poses an additional threat to your teeth. In addition to this, as with any sticky sweets, the sugars can remain on your teeth for a long time due to their stickiness. Anyone not flossing regularly is at particular risk of this.

Bread

This one might come as a bit of a surprise to you. Bread does contain sugars but also has the tendency to form a ‘gooey’ paste which also gets easily stuck between the teeth. Few of us will want to give up bread but there are two things that you can do which will help to alleviate this problem. Firstly, choose a wholemeal bread where possible as this tends to break down more easily and is less likely to stick between your teeth for a long time. Secondly, where practical, and this applies to all food; after you have finished eating or drinking anything with sugar in it, swill water around your mouth vigorously and spit it out. This is a great way of dislodging some food that has become trapped. It isn’t a substitute for a good brushing and flossing regime, but it is a very useful addition.

Alcohol

We have mentioned this one before but it is always worth a reminder. Alcohol not only usually contains sugars but can dehydrate us, leaving us with a dry mouth. As readers will know from previous blogs, this can cause an increase in potentially harmful bacteria in the mouth which can lead to gum disease problems. Make sure to drink sensibly and to rehydrate with plenty of water.

Fruit

Who doesn’t love a refreshing citrus fruit on a hot summer’s day? We know that some of the staff at the Cygnet Dental Practice do and we are sure that many of you do too.  Whilst we don’t recommend cutting fruit from your diet as it provides a lot of vitamins and minerals,  it is worth bearing in mind that citrus fruits especially are quite acidic and eating them to excess can lead to enamel erosion on your teeth. Dried fruit too can be problematic as they can easily become trapped between your teeth. This can be a problem with young children as well meaning parents sometimes give them raisins as a treat instead of sweets. This can often lead to tooth decay in young and vulnerable teeth.

Ice

Yes, you read that right. Ice can sometimes result in the need to see a dentist, and this despite the fact that it contains only water and no sugars. The problem is that some people just don’t seem able to resist the temptation to ‘crunch’ the ice in their mouth. This is all well and good but it is also a good way of finding out which of your teeth are not as strong as you think they are. Chipped and broken teeth are a common result of this habit that we recommend that you avoid. By all means have ice in your drink, but leave it in the glass to do the job it was meant for and don’t risk breaking your teeth on it.

Good oral health is important and eating a healthy and tooth friendly diet plays a big role in maintaining it. Even with the best diet in the world though, it is still important to have your mouth checked regularly, usually on a six monthly basis, by a dentist.  If you live in the Wickford or Rayleigh area, we can provide this service for you. Simply give the Cygnet Dental Practice a call on 01268 733078 and we’ll be pleased to assist.