When we think about foods that can harm our teeth, our minds usually stray to soda, candy, or even coffee. As a well rounded Burke dental practice, we offer teeth cleanings for anyone’s teeth damaged by these tasty treats. However, there are plenty of foods that you wouldn’t even consider to damage your teeth. In this article, we talk about a few.
Citrus Fruits– Starting off with a shocker, citrus fruits can have many overall health benefits that aren’t related to your teeth. They’re often full of nutrients and vitamins that are good for your body however they have one negative effect on your teeth. These well known fruits are full of acid which chip away and can cause decay for your pearly whites. Drinking water after consumption can wash away the leftover acids on your teeth and help in the long run for your dental health.
Tomatoes – Another healthy food on this list that can sometimes damage your teeth is tomatoes. Like citrus fruits, they contain a large amount of acid that can wear away your teeth’s enamel. However, eating tomatoes with or on a meal can neutralize some of the damage. This Burke dental practice advises you to drink water after consuming, as this can remove the risk of acid sitting on your teeth.
Breath Mints – Keeping your mouth smelling clean can boost your confidence and avoid any awkward issues with bad breath. A good conversation can be ruined by someone who didn’t brush their teeth in the morning. Breath mints provide a great option to anyone, but they have one down side. Many breath mints or gum have added sugars for better flavor and better smell, these can cause major issues with your dental health. These mints stay in your mouth for a longer than usual time and allow these sugars to be absorbed by your teeth. Don’t be fooled by the low calories, as the sugar is what gets you with these breath mints.
Pickles – A recurring theme this Burke dental center sees here is that many of these somewhat surprising options is the amount of acid these foods contain. With pickles sitting in vinegar to give them their flavor, this causes them to hold onto a lot of that acid. This acid can destroy your teeth similar to the acid talked about earlier. Again, drinking water after eating acidic food can greatly reduce the risk of decay.
Crackers – Most foods containing starch or carbohydrates become bad news for your teeth. As you chew, these carbs break down into sugars, which not surprisingly can harm your teeth. Crackers or any bread-like substance can also become soggy and gooey when broken down, and easily stick to your teeth and in hard to reach places. This can have long lasting negative effects on your teeth.
“Everything is great in moderation”. Some of these foods are actually good for your overall health and the rest are pretty neutral. This Burke dental practice knows that eating some of these foods are unavoidable as cravings come and go. Drinking lots of water can go a long way to reducing the risk of dental issues. For more information on professional teeth cleaning, visit our website at https://www.burkeparkwaydental.com/procedures/dental-cleanings/ or call to book an appointment today at 703-429-0665.