It is important to not consume too much sugar as it can cause tooth decay. However, there are many other foods that can be hard on your teeth and damage tooth enamel. Dr. Izadi, Dr. Rafat, and their Hunt Valley, MD, professional dental team want to remind patients of foods that you should watch out for if you want to keep your teeth and gums healthy. If you want to schedule an appointment, call (410) 656-2278.
Types of Foods to Avoid
- Sports drinks: Sports drinks have extremely high sugar and acid content, accelerating tooth decay. They are even more erosive than energy drinks and sodas, although both are more acidic.
- Ice: Many people chew ice as a habit. Because ice is so hard, chewing on it can easily chip or break your teeth.
- Tomatoes: Tomatoes are considered a healthy vegetable. However, there’s a lot more acid in tomatoes than you might be aware of. If you eat too many tomatoes on their own, the acid can affect your teeth.
- Pickles: When you eat pickles, try to drink water afterward. This can minimize the lingering acid from the vinegar.
- Breath mints and cough drops: Because breath mints and cough drops are packed with sugar, they can cause tooth decay. If you’re struggling with a cough or want to freshen your breath, look for sugar-free versions.
- Crackers and potato chips: These snacks contain refined carbohydrates that break down into sugars, even though they don’t indicate a lot of sugars on the label. Both of these foods tend to get stuck on your teeth, meaning those sugars are going to be stuck as well. Letting them sit on your teeth means bacteria are accumulating there and can lead to tooth decay and gum disease.
- Peanut butter and jelly: Especially if you put it on white bread, this popular sandwich is full of sugar. Peanut butter and jelly are sticky foods that tend to linger in your teeth. White bread contains refined carbs that break down into sugars, similar to crackers and potato chips.
- Canned fruit: In addition to the regular sugars that naturally occur in fruits, there are added sugars in the canned variety. If they’re canned citrus fruits, they combine those sugars with high acid content.