Keeping your teeth and gums healthy requires a conscious effort. In addition to following a regular cleaning regimen, you should also watch what you eat and drink. There are certain types of food that are more likely to wreak havoc on your tooth enamel than others. Here are the ones you should limit or totally avoid.
Foods That Can Wreak Havoc Your Tooth Enamel
Alcohol
If you’re seriously concerned about your teeth, perhaps this is the time to set a limit on alcohol intake. Alcohol dries out your mouth, so when the saliva runs out it fails to do its job of washing off food particles. This can lead to enamel decay, gum disease, and other periodontal infections.
Carbonated Drinks
Soda or pop contain plenty of acid to ruin your teeth’s enamel. The more of it you drink, the more you’re essentially bathing your teeth in acid. That’s not to mention that dark-colored drinks can stain and discolor your pearly whites. Similar to alcohol, it also dries out your saliva.
Citrus
Citrus fruits like lemons, grapefruit, and oranges are rich in vitamin C but their high-acidity can also wreak havoc on your enamel, making your enamel more prone to erosion. However, these fruits should still be part of your daily diet, so just be sure to wash them off with water afterward to protect your teeth.
Sour Candies
Candy is bad for your teeth, but sour gummy candies are even worse. They can stick to your teeth, which destroys your enamel.
Other types of food that can affect the integrity of your teeth include bread (which can stick into the crevices of your teeth), ice (particularly when chewed), coffee (which can cause staining), and many more. While there is no need to stop enjoying food that you love, the point is to always wash them off with water after. Better yet, make it a habit to brush and gargle after every meal.
