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A healthy diet is crucial for overall health and well-being, but it is especially important for dental health. What you eat impacts the health and appearance of your teeth. While it is important to eat healthy foods, it is also crucial to limit the intake of certain food items. Here are some foods that can damage our oral health.

• Sugary Foods

When trying to eat for oral health, you’ll want to limit your sugar and carbohydrate intake as much as possible. This is because these foods feed the bad bacteria that live in your mouth. High levels of bad bacteria have been linked to tooth decay and gum disease. Many sugary foods and drinks may also contain acids that can erode tooth enamel over time. This includes soft drinks, sports drinks, fruit juices, and other acidic drinks. Regular snacking on candy or other sweets also puts you at an increased risk of cavities. It’s best to avoid these foods between meals when possible. If you do snack, choose healthier options like cheese, nuts, raw veggies, or plain yogurt.

• Dried Fruit

While dried fruit can be a tasty and healthy snack in moderation, the sugar content makes it one of the worst foods for dental health. That’s because the sticky texture tends to cling to teeth longer than other sugary treats, which increases the risk of tooth decay. Additionally, even if the sugar in dried fruit doesn’t stay in the mouth as much as in other sweets, it can still feed oral bacteria to create acids. These acids can lead to enamel erosion or cavities over time. One thing to keep in mind is that even unsweetened dried fruit contains natural sugars. It’s still a good idea to enjoy dried fruits in moderation but avoid eating them every day.

• Sticky Foods

Pop, gummy candy, and other types of “sticky foods” are guaranteed to leave their mark on your teeth if you eat a lot of them. A sugary treat once or twice won’t cause much damage, but eating sticky food in excess can lead to tooth decay and cavities. You can also develop serious issues like periodontal disease or gum disease from excessive sugar. Most dentists recommend that you reduce your intake of sticky treats to prevent problems in the future. 

• Crunchy Foods

Crunchy foods can cause jaw pain, tooth fractures, and damage to your restorations. Some crunchy foods, such as potato chips or tortilla chips, are downright harmful to your smile. 

For more information and tips about improving your dental health, schedule a consultation with your cosmetic dentist at Courtyard Dental. You can request an appointment online or by calling the office directly.