Your diet can play a bigger part in your oral health than you may realize. Certain foods that you think are healthy may play a bigger role in tooth decay and other dental issues. Dr. Rajeev Upadya of Metropolitan Center for Complete Dentistry, a dentist in East Hanover, NJ, mentions some foods that you might want to avoid.
1. Sports Drinks
You may think that sports drinks are better for you than things like soda and energy drinks. However, sports drinks usually have just as much or more sugar than these other beverages. Many sports drinks also contain citric acid for flavoring. A combination of citric acid and sugar is very bad for your teeth. When you’re working out, stick to water.
2. Dried Fruit
Fruit is often an alternative to candy when you need something for your sweet tooth. But you should stick to the fresh kind, which can often actually help your oral health. Dried fruit is often more concentrated with sugar and can lose nutrients in the drying process. They also have a texture that’s similar to chewy candy, leading it to get stuck in your teeth.
3. Crackers and Chips
You may not see the sugar content being high on the nutrition facts. But as starches, chips and crackers break down quickly into sugars as you chew and digest them. Chips tend to get stuck between teeth and crackers turn into a paste that gets into the crevices on top of your molars. If you’re going to snack on these, try to rinse your mouth out with water after.
4. Hard Candy
You may realize that chewy candy isn’t the best for your teeth. But hard candy isn’t a good substitute. Though it doesn’t get stuck in your teeth, it takes a long time to dissolve in your mouth. It’s releasing sugar the entire time it’s dissolving. This feeds harmful oral bacteria in your mouth, while they emit an acidic byproduct. This is what wears away your dental enamel and causes cavities.
Hard candy can also chip or break your teeth. If it hasn’t dissolved enough or if you bite down at the wrong angle, it can cause harm to your teeth. This could be anything from a cosmetic chip to a painful, large break that’ll need restorative dentistry services. Something like a dental crown may be needed to cover exposed nerves in your tooth.
5. Ice
Water is one of the best things you can consume for your oral health. But you should stick to it in its liquid form. Chewing on ice increases the rate at which your teeth get worn down. They also can have the same consequences as hard candy. If you bite down at the wrong time or angle, it can cause serious damage to your teeth.
Get a Checkup at Your East Hanover, New Jersey Dentist
Make sure you get your teeth checked regularly to make sure your diet isn’t harming your oral health. Call us today or schedule an appointment online.