Healthy food to eat to benefit your gums

Even though you do not realize, there are certain foods and drinks which can be very harmful for your teeth: sodas, hard candy, ice, white and red wine, sticky candy or fruit, citrus fruit, sports drinks, potato chips, etc.

So, if you want to have healthy teeth and healthy gums, you must avoid these foods and beverages as much as you can. Bellow you will find more about these foods and drinks that can cause either stains on your teeth or excess plaque.

Citrus fruit. Citrus fruits, such as grapefruits, oranges or limes have a lot of vitamins and antioxidants, but they also contain a lot of acids. Frequent exposure to acidic foods can erode your enamel, making teeth more exposed to decay as the time passes. Citric fruits may also irritate mouth sores.

Sodas. Sodas have a lot of sugar, so they can be very harmful for your teeth. When you drink sweet beverages, bacteria from plaque uses that sugar to produce acids that attack your enamel. If you drink a lot of sodas, be sure you also drink a lot of water after. Diet soft drinks are also bad for your teeth. They have no sugar, but they may have even more acid in the form of artificial sweeteners.

Sticky candy or dried fruit. Sticky foods tend to stay on your teeth longer than other types of food. Since saliva cannot reach that part of your tooth to neutralize the acid or remineralize the area, you have a greater loss of calcium. Bacteria converts all sugars to acids, so make sure you rinse with water after eating this type of food and also brush and floss carefully. Try to avoid as much as possible raisins, dry apricots, gummy bears.

Potato chips. This crunchy snack can affect a lot your oral health because they are filled with, starch, which tend to get trapped in your teeth. It can lead to plaque build-up. When chip particles get stuck between teeth acid-producing bacteria increases the risk of tooth decay. So you should carefully floss and drink water after this kind of snacks.

Hard candy. Hard candy contains a lot of sugar and chewing on them can crack your teeth and fillings. If you use to consume hard candy, you are more likely to have cavities. Replace them with sugar-free versions.

White wine and red wine. The acids in wine eat away your teeth enamel, creating spots that make teeth more vulnerable to staining from other foods. Red wine will cause discoloration.

Cocktails have a lot of sugar and if you choose to drink one, the risk of cavities will increase. And alcohol causes dry mouth and dehydration. People who use to drink a lot may find their saliva flow is reduced over time, which can lead to tooth decay and other oral health problems, such as gum disease. Heavy drinkers are more likely to develop mouth cancer.

Chewing on ice is a really bad habit for your teeth. It can easily break your teeth if you are used to chew on the ice cubes once you have finished your drink.

Eat more of these foods:

Onions
Leafy greens
Green tea
Peppers
Carrots, celery
Milk, Yogurt, cheese
As a conclusion, if you want to have strong teeth and good oral health, try to avoid the foods and drinks mentioned above. In case you prefer them and you cannot live without them, minimize the damage done to your teeth by drinking water afterwards, by brushing and flossing carefully.

If you have questions regarding this topic and if you want to schedule an appointment with Dr. Arhiri, call us today at 610.647.7611.

References:

http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/nutrition/food-tips/9-foods-that-damage-your-teeth
http://www.prevention.com/health/health-concerns/25-foods-dentists-wont-eat/slide/10
http://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-you/oral-health/5-foods-that-will-destroy-your-teeth/
http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/foods-drink-harm-teeth#1
http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/ss/slideshow-teeth-wreckers