3 Foods That Are Surprisingly Bad For Your Teeth

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Most of us understand the basics of oral health – sugary foods and substances cause tooth decay, which can lead to a whole list of other (and very expensive) problems. We tend to avoid eating sugary foods like sweets or cakes too often, and we also steer clear of fizzy drinks. 

This information is obvious, but are you aware of some other foods that are surprisingly bad for your oral health? You avoid the blatant foods yet could still raise the risk of tooth decay if you’re not careful. For more context, here are three foods to be cautious of if you want healthy teeth: 

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Citrus Fruits

Many products come under the citrus fruit heading, including: 

• Oranges
• Grapefruits
• Lemons
• Limes
• Mandarins

You know what we’re talking about – it’s basically all the fruits that feel a bit zingy when you eat them. Ironically, it’s the zinginess that’s the problem as this is caused by acids in the fruit. Teeth hate sugar, but they also hate acid. It eats away at tooth enamel, making your teeth weaker and more prone to cavities. 

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Bread

Yes, bread can be bad for your teeth – particularly if you choose the white stuff. It may not be associated as a sugary treat, but white bread breaks down in your mouth and all the starch is transformed into sugar. To make matters worse, you’ve all probably experienced the “bread cement” effect. It’s when chewed bread sticks to your teeth or ends up stuck between teeth. 

This is a big problem as it means a sugary substance is lingering there for hours, which can lead to bacteria build-up and decay.

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Crisps

Again, we usually turn to crisps as a sugar-free snack alternative to sweets. Unfortunately, the same issue happens here as we see in bread. Starch from the crisps is broken down by saliva and turns into sugars. 

The bigger issue with crisps is that it’s much easier to get bits stuck between your teeth. This can cause bacteria to eat away at your gums and lead to gum disease as well as tooth decay. 

How Do You Prevent These Foods From Causing Problems?

Should you stop eating these three foods altogether? No. If you didn’t eat anything that could harm your teeth, you’d be on the world’s strictest diet. It’s okay to eat the items above, just be sure you’re not going overboard. At the same time, practice good oral hygiene to avoid tooth decay or prevent a problem from getting worse and turning into a costly root canal. 

Get into the habit of flossing after eating to remove food particles from between your teeth. Rinsing your mouth out with water can also help – you could use mouthwash too, but avoid brushing your teeth for at least 30 minutes after eating. If you brush too soon after eating, you run the risk of damaging your teeth as they get a bit softer when you eat. 

Of course, always brush twice a day – ideally in the morning and before bed. Visiting your dentist once or twice a year can also help pick up on issues and it’s a good way to get proper advice on how to look after your teeth.