Your teeth can be a good representation of what you eat. You can see enamel loss, and if someone drinks too much coffee without brushing, you can see stains. Teeth are sensitive, and if you don’t take care of them they will start to show what you eat. Still, following a poor diet can have catastrophic consequences for your teeth. It can be the difference between a mouth full of pearly whites and stained, broken down teeth. If you want to know more about what kind of infections you can get, check out our common oral infections piece here.
Bread
Everybody loves bread! Unless you’re doing Keto, then you’re safe. But for the vast majority of americans, bread is what makes the meal. From toast in the morning to a sandwich at lunch, bread compliments most of our meals. That’s why it’s especially important to watch your bread consumptions, because it’s also one of the worst foods for your teeth.
When bread is broken down in the mouth, your saliva turns it into a mushy substance that easily sticks between your teeth and stays there. Then bacteria forms and you’ve got a cavity in the works.
Alcohol
Alcohol isn’t healthy?! It’s true, but did you know it is also horrible for your teeth? Drinking alcohol dries out your mouth very quickly. Dry mouths are not healthy for your teeth because saliva helps to keep your teeth healthy. Food sticks your mouth and teeth much more easily when it’s dry. If you do have to drink alcohol, be sure to drink plenty of water during and after consumption.
Citrus
Citrus fruits such as lemons, oranges, and grapefruits are nutritionally healthy for the human body. They are jam-packed with vitamin C and taste great. However, because of their high acid content, they easily damage tooth enamel with too much exposure. Always rinse your mouth with water after having citrus. Even something as simple as putting lemon juice in water can add enough acidity to do damage.
Carbonated Beverages
Soft drinks like soda already aren’t great for your health due to the high sugar content. But they might be even worse for your teeth than for your body. Drinks that are carbonated produce more acid out of plaque, so drinking these is covered your teeth in acidity.