There are several ways for people to prevent cavities from forming, such as regular brushing, flossing, and visits to the dentist. Another important but often underappreciated tip is to avoid consuming certain food and drinks that can potentially harm your teeth (or at least reduce how much of them you consume).
When you come to your regular dental cleaning, our Lombard dentist Dr. Glud will treat any cavities you have while offering advice on how to prevent future tooth decay.
Chemicals and substances that are known to harm teeth and gums include acids, sugar, and/or carbohydrates. These food and drink items are some of the worst culprits.
1.Sour Candies
Sour candy delivers a double whammy because it contains significant quantities of both sugar and acid. For this reason, sour candies rank higher on our list of “foods to avoid” than regular candies.
Since sour candies usually have a gummy texture, they tend to stick to your teeth. This makes them more likely to provide a long-term home for enamel-eating bacteria. Make sure to either avoid eating sour candy or try brushing your teeth soon after eating them.
2. Breads
Carbohydrates very quickly break down into sugar, so bread
is just as bad for your teeth as sugary treats. Just like gummy candy, carbs
tends to stick to teeth and can cause cavities to develop more fairly
quickly.
If you’re craving carbs, opt for wheat or whole-grain bread that breaks down into sugars less rapidly. Also avoid treats such as donuts or cinnamon rolls, which are both carb-loaded and very sugary.
3. Alcohol
Saliva is important for maintaining the health of your teeth and preventing cavities. Alcohol causes dry mouth, which reduces the amount of saliva in your mouth. You should limit the amount of alcohol you consume to reduce the incidence of dry mouth. Also, certain alcoholic drinks are more acidic than others. Try to avoid highly acidic alcohols such as certain types of beer and cider as much as possible.
4. Carbonated Drinks
Soda is one of the most acidic substances that people consume. It coats your teeth in acids and is a very common cause of cavities. In addition, the carbonation promotes dry mouth, and soda is usually full of sugar.
Overall, soda and other carbonated drinks are bad for your health. Limit your consumption of soda and energy drinks or avoid the damaging effects of sugar altogether. You’ll benefit from improved overall health from this decision.
5. Citrus
Citrus is another highly acidic item that people consume all-to-often. Eating lemons, limes, grapefruit, and oranges can quickly wear away the enamel on your teeth. Lemonade and orange juice can also be damaging to your teeth. Avoid these foods and drinks, and try to avoid eating lemons and limes directly.
6. Fruit Juices
Speaking of orange juice, any fruit juice can be damaging to
your teeth if consumed too often. In addition to the natural acids of fruit,
juice has high concentrations of citric acids that are added for preservation
and promotion of flavor. Juice is often chock full also full of sugar. As
the old adage goes, everything in moderation.
Contact Our Lombard Dentist to Fight Cavities
If you want further oral hygiene advice or a dental cleaning to prevent cavities, contact Dental Care of Lombard. We offer gentle dental care to give you a clean, healthy smile. Contact our office today by calling 630-629-5700 to schedule an appointment.