What you eat and drink can seriously impact your dental health
- Jan 23 2017
The things that you eat and drink matter. Your choices affect your weight, your muscle strength, your energy levels, and more — including your dental health — in some surprising ways. Sure, you might know some of the major “no-nos” when it comes to eating and drinking, but the impacts that foods and beverages have on your overall oral health are not always obvious until it’s too late and you’re in need of a filling, a bridge, or a root canal. While the occasional treat here and there won’t hurt you too much, if you’re serious about dental health, you should consider doing some major modifications to the way you enjoy indulgences that contain high levels of tooth-damaging acid and sugar, including the following:
Flaky foods
Pastries, potato chips, and popcorn might be oh-so-yummy, but they can break apart and get lodged between your teeth, leaving your enamel to fight off the sugar that they pack and possibly even creating a space for bacteria to grow.
Tough snacks
Yes, even beloved favorites like apples, carrots, beef jerky, and corn on the cob can do damage to your teeth — particularly if they are already frail or damaged. To avoid problems, consider cutting up tough foods before diving in, or cook them to soften the natural crunch.
Alcohol
Bar hopping around New York can be fun, but you should be mindful of the libations your order. If you drink red wine, you’ve probably fallen victim to “wine teeth” at least once in your life. Over time, dark wines can leave your teeth stained, but did you know that white wines like chardonnay and moscato can do equal damage because of the acid that they contain? Further, those delightful cocktails and ciders are sweet because they contain high amounts of sugar, which can cause tooth decay in the long run.
Citrus
Oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits, and other citrus fruits are loaded with vitamins and are low in calories and fat, but they harbor an excessive amount of acid, which can strip the enamel from your teeth.
Soda (and other sugar-laden drinks)
This is probably a no-brainer to most folks, but sodas — even of the diet variety — should only be consumed in moderation. Excessive soda drinking can erode your teeth with time and darker drinks, like colas, can lead to discoloration. “Healthier” options like sports drinks, fruit juices, and sweet iced tea should also be drank with caution.
On top of it all, many of these items can be even worse for people with special dental needs — like dentures, braces, or sensitive teeth. Fortunately, many of the damages left in the wake of consuming these foods and drinks can be lessened with proper dental care. That means regular flossing, brushing, and dental appointments, plus whitening or other aesthetic treatments as desired. Have questions or need to schedule a check-up? Call us today.
Categories: Dental Health