It’s common knowledge that your eating habits can have several effects on your overall health, but one of the most noticeable parts of the body that visibly reflects the impacts of your diet is your teeth.
Even if you’re strict with your dental hygiene and visit your dentist in downtown Vancouver regularly, certain foods and drinks are more susceptible to developing plaque buildup, which can lead to more severe issues, such as the breakdown of tooth enamel and cavities.
Some food items are more obvious than others. However, just because these things aren’t the best for your overall dental health, doesn’t mean you can never have them. If you instill responsible dental practices - like regular brushing and flossing - and attend your routine check-ups, you should be okay.
At the end of the day, it’s all about moderation!
With this in mind, here are some foods to enjoy sparingly to preserve your pearly whites.
Sour candies
Likely not coming as much of a surprise, candy, especially sour candy, is not exactly healthy for your mouth. What sets sour candies apart, though, is they contain more varied types of acid that are more corrosive on your teeth.
Chewy or gummy sour candies, in particular, can cause more extensive damage from sticking to teeth for more extended periods of time, promoting decay.
Keep this in mind the next time you visit a candy shop, moderation is the key to ensure your visits to the dentist in Coquitlam are only for routine check-ins.
Bread
This one might hurt a little. While bread is a foundational food for many recipes, the saliva in our mouth breaks down the starches it contains into sugar. Additionally, when chewing, the paste-like product it creates can get stuck between your teeth, which may lead to cavities.
If you can’t live without carbs - which is entirely understandable - opting for whole wheat options is a plausible alternative since they contain fewer added sugars and don’t break down as quickly or easily.
Citrus
With citrus fruits, such as oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and limes, being chock-full of healthy vitamins and minerals, you’d think that dentists in Vancouver would say go for it. However, citrus is also full of acid that can erode enamel and weaken your teeth, making them more vulnerable to damage and decay.
On top of potentially damaging your teeth, the harsh acids in citrus can also develop mouth sores.
Sugary drinks
Another well-known fact, sodas and other sugary drinks, such as juice or energy drinks, have the potential to impact your oral health negatively and serve as one of the most common dietary causes of tooth decay.
Sugar tends to latch onto your teeth, and the typical bacteria commonly found in your mouth eat away this excess sugar left behind by sugary drinks. However, as they do so, they produce acid, which will slowly degrade the enamel on your teeth, causing them to become thinner and weaker, which increases your likelihood of developing cavities.
Indeed, the finer things in life are best enjoyed in moderation, not only because it makes them that much more special when you can indulge, but because your teeth and mouth will thank you in the long run, meaning you can enjoy more, longer!