According to the American Dental Association (ADA), food choices play a critical role in preventing tooth decay. In fact, certain food choices not only stain teeth, but are also very harmful to overall dental health. Below are just six of the worst foods for your teeth and what to stay away from.
Desserts
Desserts such as cakes and pies will add unneeded sugar to your diet. Cake is full of sugar and carbohydrates that quickly turn into acid in the mouth. In fact, cherry and blueberry pie are the worst culprits for staining teeth. Don’t forget that innocent looking crackers are just processed carbs that easily get stuck between the teeth. After eating a carbo-loaded snack like this, make sure you rinse with water.
Ice Cream
Some people might claim that ice cream is somewhat healthy because it is a dairy product, rich in calcium. However, ice cream also contains high amounts of sugar. In addition, most toppings that people love to put on ice cream, such as chocolate syrup or cookies, will most likely be high in sugar. Ice cream also causes tooth sensitivity if eaten a lot.
Candy
It goes without saying that candy is not good for your dental health. Hard candy sticks to the teeth and damages the enamel, while chewy candy can get stuck between teeth. According to a recent Popular Science article, most candy is crammed with sugars, such as high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), and a 10 year old child should only consume 5.8 teaspoons, or 23 grams, of sugar a day. This is the equivalent of 2 small Butterfingers or 40 M&M’s.
Dried Fruits
While they are technically healthier than fruit shaped candy, the drying process for dried fruit causes the sugars to concentrate together. After you chew on the dried fruit, the sticky outer layer will cling to teeth and result in acidic sugar build up.
Breakfast Cereals
Research shows that breakfast cereals are loaded with unnecessary sugars. A single serving (one cup) of Kellogg’s Raisin Bran Crunch contains 20 grams of sugar while a single serving of Apple Jacks contains 15 grams. The good news is certain cereals, such as Cheerios, Grape Nuts, and Wheaties, are generally healthier. Learn more about the nutritional content of breakfast cereals here.
Processed Starches
Certain foods, such as bread and pasta, contain a large amount of carbs and sugars. Even worse, potato chips are salty, starchy snacks that easily get lodged between teeth and transform into tooth eating acid.
To recap, certain foods are pretty harmful to dental health. These include deserts, ice cream, candy, dried fruits, breakfast cereals, and potato chips. Always be aware of what you’re putting in your mouth and what products are damaging to teeth. A Glendale Heights Dentist recommends getting tooth whitening products and procedures only after a consultation with a professional. Remember to eat a healthy, low sugar diet and use products you know are safe.
*Our content is not intended to provide medical advice or diagnosis of individual problems or circumstances, nor should it be implied that we are a substitute for professional medical advice. Users / readers are always advised to consult their Healthcare Professional prior to starting any new remedy, therapy or treatment. Your Wellness Group accepts no liability in the event you, a user of n-gage and a reader of this article, suffers a loss as a result of reliance upon or inappropriate application of the information.
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