23 Jul 2019 12:01
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You would have heard from most people brushing and flossing twice a day is the best way to keep your teeth healthy. But one thing that most of us don’t know about dental health is that the food we eat can have a big impact on our teeth. It is said that you are what you eat and your teeth’s health is a testament to that. I am Dr. karimi from Emergency Dental Clinic Toronto and I am going to introduce you 5 foods which can damage your teeth in the long-run.
There are two main elements of food that tarnish your pearly whites: sugar and acid. Sugars, feed the millions of bacteria that is already present in your mouth. And when the relatively non harmful bacteria is fed by added sugar, it becomes difficult to remove it even while brushing.
Similarly, acids are present naturally occur in many foods and acidic foods break down your teeth directly. What you eat really matters not just for your teeth but your overall health. Here’s a list of 5 foods that you should avoid for healthier teeth and avoid decay.
1. Hard candies may trigger an emergency dental
You might already know that sugar in candy is a problem, hard candies are especially harmful as post meal we adults and children tend to keep chewing them in our mouths. Avoiding your overall sugar intake but having candies might be doing more harm than good to your teeth, triggering a dental emergency such as a broken or chipped tooth. To maintain a balance, sugarless gum is a better alternative. In my Emergency Dental Toronto, I have had many emergency dental patients with broken teeth caused by hard candies.
2. Sticky candy or fruit can damage your teeth
Bits of chewy toffee, chocolate or even gummy bears can impact your teeth more than you’ve ever thought. These foods can sometimes even stick to your teeth doing more damage than you could imagine. Eating fruits is fine, just be sure to follow it up by brushing your teeth or mouthwash shortly after and floss carefully.
3. Sports drinks is a real enemy for the teeth’s health
For your teeth to feel healthy, you need to avoid sweet liquids, such as sports replenishment drinks. The acidity in these drinks is extremely high, making it a real enemy for your teeth’s health. The best when it comes to your teeth, is to have water and natural fruit juices without any additional sugar input.
4- Citrus fruits might keep your dentist on Speed dial
If you always prefer sour to sweet, the acid might keep your dentist on speed dial. Apples, lemons, oranges, grapefruit and other citrus fruits are quite acidic and harm your teeth along with causing an irritation to the occasional mouth sores too. Make sure to drink plenty of plain water. Remember to rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash shortly after to make sure that your teeth are fresh.
5- Salad dressing like vinegar is harmful for the teeth
Vinegar and many flavours are used for salad dressings. Salad is used as a staple in a diet but you need to be careful of the dressings used in a salad that can harm your teeth’s health. The best way is to customize your salad as prevention is better than cure. Remember to brush after every meal and especially those that include a salad with dressing.
source: emergency detal clinic