Food is bad for your teeth, what is it?

It's no surprise that the mouth is quite possibly the part of our body that gets the most care. Brush your teeth, floss, scrape your tongue, use mouthwash very thoroughly, but tooth decay and gum disease still bother you? Why is that? The answer may be hidden in your fridge! Even if you have a perfect oral hygiene routine, it is still difficult to keep your teeth healthy if you regularly consume harmful foods.

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• 1. Sweet confectionery
• 2. Sticky food
• 3. Food, fruit has a sour taste
• 4. Hard Food
• 5. Carbonated water
• 6. Alcoholic beverages
• 7. Eat for healthy teeth

1. Sweet confectionery

It's not surprising that sweets top the list of foods that are harmful to teeth. The amount of sugar in the confectionery crumbs deposited in the corners of the mouth is a rich source of nutrients for bacteria to multiply and grow, causing tooth decay .

Among the factors that contribute to tooth decay, the frequency of sugar intake is more important than the total sugar intake. Therefore, if you want to eat sweets, include them in your meals. Don't forget to brush your teeth afterwards. Absolutely do not sip junk food and say no to candy that lasts in the mouth.

Sweet candies easily make you tooth decay

The good news for you is that some studies show that dark chocolate (70% cocoa) offers certain health benefits as well as a reduced risk of tooth decay. If you have a craving for snacks, you can get a piece of dark chocolate to replace the sweet candy.

2. Sticky food

Sweets are not good for teeth, everyone knows, but sticky candies are much more destructive to teeth. Some examples are coconut candy, malt candy, caramel...

As for starchy foods, in addition to being a source of sugar for bacteria in the mouth, they also cause harm through stickiness. The stickiness of foods makes them difficult to wash off and stay in the mouth longer. This gives the bacteria plenty of time to eat the sugar.

Some people think that dried fruit is a healthy snack. That may be true. But many dried fruits such as apricots, plums, grapes, bananas... have sticky properties.

Dried fruit is sticky, very difficult to clean after eating

If they get stuck in the teeth and crevices will leave a lot of lines. If you like to eat dried fruit, make sure you clean your teeth afterwards.

>> Are you taking care of your teeth properly? Learn more to protect your own health.

3. Food, fruit has a sour taste

Many fruits are fresh and delicious and provide us with a rich source of vitamin C. They are oranges, lemons, grapefruits, kiwis, mangoes... They help strengthen the body's immune system. But a food that is good for the body is not necessarily good for the teeth.

In fact, the acidic content of fruit can wear down teeth. Erosion causes sensitivity and can make teeth more susceptible to decay. Especially with fruit juices, most juices are concentrated. As a result, you are exposed to higher levels of acidity than eating fresh fruit. Plus, citrus acids can be irritating to mouth sores . If you want to get more nutrients and vitamins from fruit, eat and drink them with your meals and dessert with water afterwards.

Another culprit that causes tooth wear and sensitivity that often appears in our daily meals is pickles and pickles. Acidity in these pickled vegetables is very high. Acids affect not only tooth enamel but also other parts of the digestive tract. Therefore, it is best to limit their use even though they know that their taste is really attractive.

Although delicious, you should limit foods like sauerkraut

4. Hard Food

The nature of solid foods is not bad. But the way you eat them can be harmful to your teeth and temporomandibular joint.

Never try to use your teeth to break a bone or a crab claw. Because maybe the thing that breaks will be your teeth.

Chewing ice is a very harmful habit for teeth that many people do not know

Similar to ice, many people have a preference for chewing ice. However, this is a very harmful habit. According to the American Dental Association, chewing on a hard substance can damage tooth enamel and leave you vulnerable to unwanted tooth problems like chipping, cracking, or even fracture. You can use ice to chill the drink, but don't chew it. To combat the urge to chew on ice, choose cold water or a drink that has been chilled without ice.

Besides the damage that can be done to teeth, trying to chew hard or chewy things puts pressure on the joint system and chewing muscles. If repeated pressure often leads to overload, it can cause musculoskeletal disorders of the masticatory system, such as TMJ.

5. Carbonated water

Carbonated soft drinks contain large amounts of sugar and acids at the same time. Therefore, they are not only bad for your waistline, but also harmful to your teeth. If you sip on a soda all day, you're essentially coating your teeth with both sugar and acid. They eat away at your teeth, damaging your enamel. Plus, they dry out your mouth, creating a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. Also, carbonated water with a dark color can discolor or stain your teeth.

If you are a fan of carbonated soft drinks, drink from a straw. This helps limit water contact with the tooth surface and reduces damage. The same goes for other acidic juices or soft drinks. Should drink quickly, do not sip them and dessert with filtered water if possible.

Drinking carbonated water with a straw will benefit your teeth

Important note for you: Never brush your teeth immediately after eating or drinking products with high acidity. It is recommended to wait at least 1 hour after that.

6. Alcoholic beverages

We all know that drinking a lot of alcohol or alcoholic beverages is not good for health. But did you realize that when you drink it, you get a dry mouth ? That is one of their biggest harms to the teeth.

Saliva prevents food from sticking to teeth and washes away food particles, keeping teeth clean. Saliva even helps heal early signs of tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral infections.

Alcoholic beverages reduce the amount of saliva in the mouth. They can cause severe dry mouth. Dry mouth leads to a series of other problems like tooth decay, tooth wear, gum disease, oral thrush… Therefore, if you want healthy teeth, it's best not to drink too much alcohol. Always remember to drink enough water to keep your mouth moist.

Alcohol is not good for teeth and health

7. Eat for healthy teeth

The American Dental Association (ADA) offers the following tips to help reduce your risk of tooth decay from the foods you eat:

• Eat sugary foods with meals. Your mouth produces more saliva during meals.
• Limit snacks between main meals. If you have a craving for snacks, choose something nutritious. Chewing sugar-free gum after eating can increase saliva flow. Saliva helps wash away food and acids.
• Drink more water. Fluoridated water can help prevent tooth decay. If you choose bottled water, check it for fluoride.
• Brush your teeth at least 2 times a day.
• Floss at least once a day.

Besides proper diet and proper oral care, do not forget to have regular dental check-ups every 6 months - 1 year to promptly detect and treat dental problems. Wish you always have strong teeth and a bright smile.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Thanh Ngoc