Maintaining oral hygiene is important in maintaining overall health. The foods you choose to eat, if unhealthy can affect your overall health. This also has an adverse effect on the appearance of your teeth and gums. Tooth decay is one of the most prevalent complication in people who consume excess Sugary substances and acidic foods. This not only affects your overall health, but also affects the appearance of tooth and may pave the path to lifelong oral complications that comprise your look and confidence.
Apart from maintaining a good oral hygiene try avoiding these seven foods and drinks which may affect your teeth:
- Citrus
Enamel is the hard-protective shell that protects the dentin. The acidic content in the citrus fruits and beverages erodes the enamel exposing your teeth to all kinds of bacteria. This is the main cause for tooth decay.
You can still have sufficient vitamin C by adding supplements your diet. You can still enjoy citrus fruits if they are consumed along with your meals so that the acidic content can be neutralised with other foods you consume. Also drinking plenty of water after citrus consumption is strictly advised.
- Dried Fruits
Dry fruits such as raisins, figs and apricots become sticky when dried. This is because, the water content in the fruit is lost leaving plenty of sugars. These dried fruits when consumed adhere to teeth like bits and provide sugar contact to the teeth for a long period of time instigating a decay.
For a healthier snack option choose fruits with more water content and that are easy to clean.
- Candies
Candies are same as sticky fruits only with more sugar content. This adheres to the tooth and get lodged in areas that are hard to reach. The excessive sugar content in candies affect the enamel and cause decays.
- Potato Chips
Too much consumption of potato chips is bad for your waist line and overall health. Consumption of potato chips is harmful for your oral health too. The high starch content in the potato chips facilitate breading grounds for all kind of bacteria in plaque. This can cause tooth decay. Also, the small and sharp edges of chips can get lodged in between tooth and damage the gum line.
- Ice
General assumption that ice is made up of only water and chewing on ice doesn’t affect your tooth is wrong. It has adverse effects on your oral health. Chewing on ice may damage any chipped, cracked or broken tooth. In fact, chewing any hard substances such as ice, fingernails, etc. can have this affect.
- Coffee
Beverages such as coffee, tea and wines contain a colouring substance called tannins. These tannins cause substances to stick to your teeth and stain them to yellow. For heavy consumers of these products general brushing of teeth wont help to remove stains. A professional tooth whitening treatment is required.
- Sugary Beverages
Saliva keeps your mouth from drying out and forms a protective layer around your teeth. The carbonated beverages make your dried out and allows the sugars present in the drinks to get attached to the enamel. This may cause tooth decay. Dark coloured sodas additionally can stain your teeth as in case of coffee and tea.
For better results and maintaining your oral hygiene it is advised to brush your teeth at least twice a day. Floss and mouth washes are indispensable tools in reducing the acid content and removing bacteria in your mouth. By planning your meals to be healthy, maintaining good oral hygiene and having regular dental appointments you can maintain your oral health and your overall health.