Most of us know that maintaining a balanced diet and eating the right foods is good for our general well-being. Eating certain foods and avoiding others can also promote good oral hygiene and better, healthier teeth. The list below forms a guide of what foods to avoid for better teeth; however, a balanced diet contains the right amount of all foods. This guide will say that Carbohydrates should be avoided for better teeth, however, it is healthy to consume a certain amount of carbohydrates with your dietary intake, so instead of avoiding foods that your body needs, it is important to simply compensate by also eating foods that promote better, healthier teeth.
Sugary Treats
As delicious as Sugary Treats are, they are not a good choice of food when trying to have better teeth. Sugar creates a sticky layer that covers your teeth and provides the perfect breeding ground for bade bacteria and germs. A build of sugar on your teeth can create plague, which can lead to many health issues such as tooth decay and gum disease. Many sugary treats also contain ingredients, other than sugar, that are bad for our teeth. Soft drinks contain a lot of sugar, but are also acidic, which can cause tooth enamel to weaken and eventually deteriorate.
Acidic Foods and Drinks
Acid covers our teeth weakens the enamel that protects them. If acidic food or drink is consumed frequently over a long period of time it can cause the tooth enamel to deteriorate completely, leaving our teeth at risk of developing tooth decay or gum disease. Acidic food and drinks to avoid include soft drinks, pineapple and many fruit juices.
Carbohydrates
The mouth contains micro-organisms that undergo a process to ferment carbohydrates to form acids. As mentioned previously, acid can cause tooth enamel to rot away and leave our teeth unprotected from bad bacteria and germs. Certain carbohydrates to avoid include crackers, pasta and bread. Although avoiding these carbohydrates may promote better teeth it is important to maintain a healthy, balanced diet. If you consume the mentioned carbohydrates, be sure to also consume foods that promote better teeth, such as proteins and Swiss cheese.
Fresh, dried and canned fruit
Although they do not contain processed sugar, a range of fruits contain high levels of natural sugar, with some even containing high levels of acidity. Fruits to avoid include pineapple, watermelon and oranges. As fruits, such as oranges, also contain good vitamins, you can eat these in moderation, always being aware of the harm they may cause to your teeth.
Energy & Sports Drinks
Energy drinks are often consumed by young adults and teenagers, whose tooth enamel is not fully matured. The acidity in these drinks causes tooth enamel to rot away. The high sugar levels in these drinks create plaque and regular consumption can lead to tooth decay and erosion. Sports drinks contain many chemicals that aim to keep athletes hydrated. Although hydration is very important when exercising, the chemicals used in these sports drinks contain the highest levels of acidity which, as previously stated, will eventually deteriorate all tooth enamel if consumed frequently.
Kevin is an award winning cosmetic dental surgeon from Sydney, Australia. Many of his clients present with bad tooth decay from a lifetime of poor eating choices and it is something that can easily have be prevented. On the weekends, Kevin enjoys mountain climbing, camping and fishing.
