Worst Foods For Oral Health

The food you eat plays an important role in your dental health. When you eat food, it breaks down into molecules and enters the bloodstream. It is necessary to avoid certain foods that can harm your oral health. Listed below are a few of the worst foods for oral health.

• Pizza

When you think of pizza, what’s the first food that comes to mind? For many people, it’s pepperoni! It’s one of the most popular toppings and is often the first thing people notice on a slice. Unfortunately, pepperoni is one of the worst foods for oral health and can wreak havoc on your teeth and gums! Here’s why eating too much pepperoni is damaging.

Pepperoni is loaded with salt and acid, both of which can cause serious damage to your teeth. The salt in pepperoni can soften your tooth enamel, making it easier for it to absorb the acid from the tomatoes. Over time, this will make your mouth more vulnerable to tooth decay. In addition to being high in acid and salt, pepperoni is also loaded with sugar that feeds oral bacteria. This can lead to cavities and other serious dental health issues.

• Soda

If you love soda, you are not alone! Just in the US alone, over 10 billion gallons of soda are consumed every year. And while soft drinks have zero nutritional value and can contribute to obesity, tooth decay is the most common health concern. Although sugar-free sodas may seem like a healthier choice, they can cause just as much damage to your teeth as their sugary counterparts. Like sugar, the acids in soda weaken enamel which makes teeth vulnerable to cavities. Drinking soda regularly can also increase your risk of decay by softening your enamel. As a result, plaque can more easily stick to softened surfaces and cause cavities. And if that weren’t enough, the carbonation in soda can also soften the tissue in and around your gums which can cause gum disease.

To best protect your oral health, limit the amount of soda you drink. If you must drink it, use a straw to avoid direct contact with your teeth. If you do consume soda, make sure to brush your teeth afterward to reduce any damaging effects it may cause to your teeth.

• Sports Drinks

The sugar and acid in sports drinks are harmful to your teeth and gums, and many people do not know just how high their sugar content is. Over time, this can lead to cavities and other oral health problems. Additionally, sports drinks have a very high acidity level, which increases the risk of erosion of the enamel. This can lead to sensitivity, staining, and tooth loss. If you enjoy the occasional sports drink, drink it in moderation and rinse your mouth with water after drinking it to keep the acid from damaging your teeth.

• Candy

Sugary candy like candy bars, hard candies, and breath mints can stick to your teeth and contribute to tooth decay. Hard candy can also crack teeth and cause tooth pain. Your saliva helps buffer acids from sugary foods and beverages, but it cannot remove the sugar itself. Sucking on hard candies can expose your dentin to sugar and increase the risk of decay. Since they can stick between teeth, sticky candies can also contribute to plaque buildup in hard-to-reach places, allowing harmful bacteria to thrive and causing gum disease. Chocolate is another highly acidic food that can erode your tooth enamel and cause cavities. 

We at Vose Family Dentistry provide the best dental treatment for patients to improve the appearance of their smiles. Call us at (507) 387-2255 to schedule an appointment.