Which Foods Are Good and Bad for Your Teeth

Even children know that not all foods are good for you. Eating some of them regularly may have a negative effect on our health, including our teeth.

5-Minute Crafts is going to tell you which foods can have a good effect on your teeth and which of them will harm your teeth.

Harmful foods

• Hard candies are not good for your teeth for 2 reasons. Firstly, they contain a lot of sugar, which is bad for your teeth. And secondly, they can damage the enamel.
• Ice is made of water and doesn’t contain sugar, but it can still be dangerous for the teeth. It can easily damage the enamel, so avoid biting pieces of ice.
• You’ve probably heard that citrus fruit juice can damage tooth enamel. It’s true: when eating sour foods often, we increase the chances of cavities. Also, citrus juice can cause irritation of the mouth and lead to small ulcers. In order to minimize the influence of acids on your teeth, wash your mouth out after eating.
• Coffee and black tea are not bad drinks, but if you drink them too often, you might damage your teeth. Coffee and tea can cause mouth dryness and change tooth enamel color. Sugar and other additives don’t make it any easier for the teeth.
• Even though natural dried fruits are good for you, they’re not very good for your teeth. The thing is, most of them are sticky and they remain on the teeth more than other foods. Plus, they might damage the enamel. If you like eating dried fruits, don’t forget to wash your mouth out and use dental floss.
• Potato chips and other starchy foods can get stuck in our teeth and remain there for a long time. After eating such snacks, don’t forget to use floss because stuck food pieces can lead to a lot of dental plaque.
• When we drink sweet sodas, bacteria turn sugar into acids, which can destroy tooth enamel. The teeth become more sensitive and more prone to cavities. And the drinks containing caffeine, aside from other things, cause mouth dryness.
• Sports drinks often contain sugar. In order to protect your teeth from the influence of sweet foods, pay attention to the ingredients and don’t drink these things unless you have to.
• All popcorn packs have seeds that don’t pop and remain hard. When they get on our teeth, they can damage them and you will have to see a dentist. Also, pieces of popcorn often get stuck in between the teeth and destroy the enamel while you chomp on it, watching a movie.
• Ketchup is not as harmless as it might seem. It contains a lot of sugar and starch, which can destroy the enamel and feed bad bacteria.

Good foods

• Water, especially the kind with fluoride, can help your teeth fight acids. So if you are eating something bad, it’s important to wash your mouth out afterward.
• Dairy products, such as cheese and yogurt, often don’t contain sugar and they’re good for you. They contain protein and calcium, which can make the enamel stronger.
• Meat, chicken, fish, eggs, and milk contain a lot of phosphorus and protein, helping to make your teeth stronger.
• Vegetables and fruits containing a lot of water and fiber help clean your teeth and decrease the bad influence of sugar. Also, chewing on these foods for a longer time helps increase the saliva production that washes all acids and food pieces.
• Parsley and other foods that require lots of chewing help clean dental plaque. Most of them have some elements that fight bacteria as well.
• Even though cranberry is sour, it contains elements that prevent the formation of acid that is bad for your teeth.
• Drinking green tea is also good for your teeth. The things it contains prevent periodontitis.
• Raisins are good for your teeth, and it’s been proven by several studies. Researchers found that raisins prevent cavities. They also contain glucose and fructose that don’t have such a bad influence on the enamel.