Everyone knows that sugar is bad for your teeth. Consuming large quantities of soda, cookies, candy, and other sweet treats can lead to decay and a less-than-healthy smile. There are also several lesser-known cavity-causers that you should look out for to avoid oral health issues. Read on to learn about six surprising cavity-causing foods and drinks that can damage your smile.
#1: Dried Fruit
Dried fruits like raisins are rich in fiber and packed full of energy. Raisins also contain vitamins and minerals like copper, potassium, iron, and vitamin B6. Calcium and boron, which are also found in this tasty treat, help you maintain good joint health and strong bones. They can also improve cognitive performance and your body’s healing abilities. Unfortunately, since raisins are dehydrated, the sugar concentration is much higher. Dried fruit is also sticky, which means it’s difficult to wash away.
#2: Saltines
The carbohydrates and processed starches in saltines are broken down into sugar in the mouth. This means that they feed bacteria in the same way as candy and soda. Additionally, little pieces of cracker can get stuck between your gums or your teeth, making them difficult to remove. This means harmful oral bacteria will be able to feed off these cracker pieces for long periods.
#3: Bread
Just like crackers, bread is broken down into sugar while you eat. The gummy paste that it forms as you chew can cause it to get stuck in the crevices between the teeth, which feeds oral bacteria and can raise your chances of developing cavities.
#4: Fruit Juice
Fruit juice is overflowing with antioxidants, fiber, and other things that would make you think it’s nothing but good for your body. Sadly, fruit juice that isn’t completely natural is packed full of added sugar. Even many 100% fruit juices contain just as much sugar as a can of soda.
#5: Alcoholic Beverages
Alcohol can dry out your mouth and is acidic, which increases your chances of developing cavities. Mixed alcoholic drinks are also often combined with soda, juice, and other sweet beverages. So drinks like margaritas, whiskey and coke, mimosas, and other popular alcoholic beverages may taste good, but they can do a lot of harm to your pearly whites.
#6: Diet Soda
Diet sodas are just as acidic as regular ones. So, even though you may think you’re making a healthy choice for your smile by drinking something sugar-free, you’re still doing more harm than good to your pearly whites.
Though these six cavity-causing foods and drinks can harm your smile, that doesn’t mean you have to cut them out completely. By practicing moderation and keeping up a good oral health routine, you’ll be able to maintain a healthy, happy smile!
About the Practice
The highly-skilled team of oral health professionals at Plush Dentistry offers family dentistry to help you and your loved ones protect your smiles from harm. They can give you information about foods that are bad for your teeth and recommend smile-approved alternatives to strengthen your pearly whites and keep them safe. Are you ready to set up an appointment or do you want to learn more about cavity-causing foods and beverages that can harm your smile? If so, call Plush Dentistry’s office at (469) 850-0786 or visit their website to get started on your journey to a more gorgeous grin.