5 Foods You Didn’t Know Are Bad for Your Teeth

A good dental hygiene routine goes a long way in maintaining a healthy smile. But being mindful of what you drink and eat is just as important.

The foods and beverages that we consume regularly contribute significantly to both the health and appearance of our teeth.

It’s no secret that soft drinks, lollies and ice cream are bad for our teeth. But below, your dentist Canley Heights will be sharing with you 5 foods that are bad for your teeth that might surprise you.

#1. Diet/sugar-free Soft Drinks

We tend to think of diet soft drinks as a healthy option. Sadly, this is not the case – not for your general health and not for your teeth!

Soft drinks and their sugar-free counterparts both cause a lot of damage to our teeth, especially when consumed excessively.

Phosphoric acid is known to restore heavy metals to their original shine. It’s found in soft drinks and diet soft drinks.

If it can break down layers on heavy metals, you can only imagine the destruction it can cause to the soft enamel on your teeth.

Consuming an acidic drink from time to time, paired with a good dental hygiene routine is ok. But, water, the healthiest choice, should be your go-to beverage.

#2. Popcorn

Even we like settling if for a Netflix binge with some freshly popped popcorn. But, it’s important to be aware of the damage that popcorn can do to your teeth and ensure you consume it carefully.

Corn kernels are HARD. One bite down onto them can crack or chip your teeth! Their fine, shell-like layers also encourage tooth decay because of how easily they become lodged in between your gums and teeth.

Flossing after eating popcorn is a good way to minimise the damage, and of course, be mindful of those rock-like kernels!

#3. Fruit

Whilst fruit contains a lot of the nutrients that we rely on to keep our immune systems fighting fit; it’s not all good news. Fruit hosts acids and sugars in large amounts which, if left to linger, can damage our enamel.

The ill-effects of the acids and sugars in fruits are further promoted when in juice form.

The bacteria responsible for breaking down the enamel on our teeth is fuelled by the large amounts of sugar found in fruit. The acid contained in fruit has also been found to soften our enamel. Considering our enamel is not regenerative, we need to take extra special care of it.

Plums, peaches and dark berries are examples of fruits that are lower in sugars and acidity. Consuming more of these types of fruits and rinsing your mouth with water after consumption is a good way to enjoy fruits without damaging your teeth.

#4. Sour Lollies

Ok, so it’s no surprise that lollies are bad for your teeth. That’s common knowledge. But what can sometimes come as a surprise is that the sour ones are the worst offenders!

The sour varieties contain acids that are especially harmful to your teeth, and it comes in large amounts.

Lollies are sticky and chewy which allows for their remnants to hang around in your mouth, fuelling the tooth decay fire.

At Canley Heights Dental Care, our dentists suggest reaching for a square of chocolate rather than lollies to satisfy a sweet craving. Being quicker to swallow and easily washed away with a rinse of water, it’s the kinder option for your teeth.

#5. Bread And Starches

This one gets the ‘most surprising’ award. Bread and other foods high in starches, like pasta and rice, are generally not suspected of causing damage to your teeth.

Unfortunately, they do! This is because these simple carbohydrates are broken down into sugars by our saliva, during the chewing process.

As we touched on previously, these sugars create a breeding ground for the bacteria in our mouth. This leads to an accelerated rate of tooth decay.

Leaning towards whole-wheat and other more complex carbohydrates like brown bread and sweet potatoes is a good way of preventing these harmful effects.

Healthy Food Choices, Healthy Teeth

So, there are a few surprising foods that are bad for your teeth on this list. But the good news is, there are reasonable alternatives for most of them.

At our family dental practice Canley Heights, we believe strongly in healthy moderation. You can prevent plaque and tooth decay by limiting your intake of treats as opposed to cutting them out.

Pair good food and beverage choices with a great dental hygiene routine and regular dental check-ups, and you’re well on your way to keeping your mouth healthy and your smile sparkling!

We are located at 1/229 Canley Vale Road in Canley Heights.