Your diet may play a bigger part in your oral health than you realize. Even if you’re brushing and flossing regularly, as well as visiting your dentist for checkups, a bad diet can still cause issues with your oral health. Dr. Bradley Dean, a periodontist in Plano, TX, discusses foods you should steer clear of if you want to keep a healthy smile and gums.
1. Sour Candy
You may already know that chewy candy isn’t great for your mouth. But sour candy takes it up a notch. Most of them have the chewy texture that gets stuck between your teeth and in the crevices of your molars. But they’re also flavored with various acids that erode the tooth enamel.
With the texture, sugar, and acid, the chance of tooth decay is high when you’re eating sour candy. Tooth decay typically causes cavities. However, if it’s left alone, things become more serious. You may end up needing teeth extracted and replaced with something like dental implants to have a complete smile again.
2. Dried Fruit
Dried fruit may seem like a good snack to help your sweet tooth. However, if you’re eating fruit, you should stick to the fresh version. Dried fruit is more concentrated with sugar and loses some of the nutrients throughout the drying process. It also has the same sort of texture as chewy candy. This combination makes it almost as bad as candy for your teeth.
3. Crackers and Chips
These foods probably don’t have a lot of sugars listed on the nutrition facts. But they’re both made of starches, which break down into sugars as they’re chewed. Chips are notorious for getting stuck between teeth, while crackers turn into a sort of paste that lays in the crevices in your molars. If you need these for a crunchy snack, make sure you rinse your mouth out with water afterward.
4. Alcohol
The biggest problem with alcohol is that the more you drink, the more it dries your mouth out. Saliva is essential for rinsing sugars and bacteria out of your mouth and away from your smile. You’ll have an increased risk of tooth decay and gum disease if your mouth is constantly dry. Drinking a lot of alcohol can also increase your chance of getting oral cancer.
5. Ice
Water in its liquid form is one of the best things for your oral health. But in its frozen form, it can cause some problems. Chewing ice is a habit a lot of people can have. This increases the wear and tear on your teeth, aging them quicker. If you bite down on ice at the wrong angle or when it hasn’t melted enough, you can also risk breaking or cracking a tooth.
Keeping Your Mouth Healthy With Your Plano, Texas Periodontist
If you think your diet may be impacting the health of your gums, it’s time to come into the office. Call us or schedule an appointment online!