With the dangers of deadly infections and unexpected disease, it can be easy to forget about your dental health. But it is important to prioritize. Studies show that there may be a link between the health of your teeth and heart disease, and even links to rheumatoid arthritis.
“If you don’t take good care of your mouth, there are bacteria that can grow and cause diseases, but again, those bacteria can cause problems in other parts of the body,” said Dr. Kim Capehart, chair of the Department of General Dentistry at Augusta University in Georgia.
In addition, ongoing dental pain can affect your mental health, Capehart said. All of this means that dental issues are something you want to prevent – and treat – whenever possible.
When it comes to keeping your teeth healthy, there are certain foods and drinks that dentists say are particularly harmful; some create a breeding ground for cavities, while others can cause cracks in natural teeth. Below, dentists share which foods and drinks are dangerous to your teeth and what you can do to protect them.
Citrus
Although citrus is good for our health because it is an excellent source of vitamin C, its acidic nature makes it hard on your teeth. Citrus can increase the acidity in your mouth, according to Dr. Jossen Gastelum, a dentist based in Arizona posts dental health tips on his TikTok channel.
Dentists identify foods and drinks that can harm your teeth and how to prevent them.
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“Oranges or grapefruits, any citrus … can cause the pH in your mouth to drop, which makes it more acidic,” Gastelum said. That can cause demineralization of the tooth or destruction of the enamel.
Ice
“I know a lot of people who like ice — that’s not good for your teeth,” said Capehart, pointing out that the cold of winter can be hard on people with dry teeth, and the dryness can lead to tooth decay.
Drinking a glass of ice water does not necessarily mean carrying a threat; this is especially true when chewing.
“Believe it or not, most people who eat ice … they just grab a cup of ice and start eating it,” Capehart. For those people, the risk of tooth damage is high.
Sticky Candy
“I really try to tell my patients anything that’s acidic or sticky, you want to stay away from because it’s going to hurt your teeth,” Capehart said.
This includes toffee, caramels, gummy worms and anything similar. They can get stuck in the crevices of your teeth and be difficult to brush out, which means pieces of candy can be left behind, according to Capehart.
What was the result? “Anything that stays on your teeth that doesn’t have to be sugar … all of those things can cause cavities,” Capehart said.
Bread And Crackers
Capehart said bread can be sticky, too, which means it can also stick to your teeth and cause dental problems. Bread eventually turns to sugar, which can cause cavities.
Gastelum added that crackers are harmful for one reason, especially to children. “And those crackers are usually made with some type of carbohydrate, which is sugar that will cause bacteria [can] also cause damage to your teeth,” Gastelum explained.
Soda And Energy Drinks
A clear drink is harmful to soda, Gastelum said, but you might be surprised how much it can harm your mouth. “Sodas can be very acidic. They can be at an acidity level close to battery acid,” he explained.
Dentists say citrus, a great source of vitamin C, is not good for your dental health.
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In fact, Gastelum said there is a term called “Mountain Dew mouth.”
“People who really drink Mountain beer … come in and sometimes they can show decay or destruction in their mouths, like people who are doing meth or something like that,” Gastelum said.
He noted that energy drinks are harmful, too. “A lot of those things are loaded with added sugar, which doesn’t help,” he said. “But the acidity in it, by itself, even in sugar-free versions, is still bad for your teeth.”
Coffee
Sorry, java lovers: Coffee is another acidic drink that can damage your teeth, Capehart said. This is true whether you drink your coffee black or with sweetener, Gastelum added.
For those who add sugar to their cup of joe, it’s doubly harmful because of the sugars floating around in your mouth. Another ding against coffee? It stains your teeth, according to Capehart.
Foods That Can Promote Good Dental Health
Fortunately, there are foods and drinks that can improve your teeth. Start with dry vegetables.
“Carrots and dried vegetables, I mean they’re just good for your overall health, but for your teeth … when you get in there and chew, it helps clean them,” Capehart said.
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According to Capehart, apples also fall into this category, and Gastelum noted that celery is good for your teeth, too. “Those are the fatty foods that can help remove plaque when you’re eating,” said Gastelum.
Another food that helps? “The funniest thing I want to say is cheese,” Gastelum said. “Cheese is good for your teeth and can be used to … neutralize some of the acids in your mouth.”
In addition, cheese contains calcium, which “helps strengthen your teeth, and also stimulates saliva,” he said, adding that this helps bring the pH levels in your mouth back up.
Finally, don’t sleep on drinks like water, milk and green tea. They can help maintain the balance of acidity in your mouth. Tea can also be “a good replacement for people who really like to drink coffee all the time,” Gastelum said.
Some Important Oral Hygiene Do-Dos
Brushing and flossing your teeth is important for oral health, but there are other things you can do, too.
Gastelum said you should rinse your mouth with water or a pH-alkaline mouth rinse like TheraBreath immediately after eating or drinking to help reduce the acidity in your mouth. “You should also wait at least 30 minutes to brush so that your saliva can block these acids,” he said.
“A good tip is to chew sugar-free xylitol gum after eating for about five minutes,” said Gastelum. “Some studies have shown that it is very beneficial because xylitol can inhibit cavity-causing bacteria and chewing helps stimulate saliva flow.”
You can find xylitol gum online or at your local grocery store. This post first appeared on HuffPost.