Foods You Didn’t Know Were Damaging Your Teeth

Teeth are very hard. They are covered with the hardest material in the human body called enamel, which is remarkably resistant to heat, and cold. Unfortunately, neglect and misuse can damage this hard covering leaving your teeth susceptible to injury and damage. But how does this happen? Let’s find out.
Sugar and acidsr
The mouth harbors more than a million different types of bacteria, which exist peacefully under ideal conditions. Ideally, after every meal, you brush your teeth leaving no food particles inside the mount. However, this does not happen. We consume junk food all through the day and it’s not really possible to brush your teeth after every snack or drink that you have! You may have rinsed but small particles of sugar or food remain in the nooks and crannies of the mouth. Oral bacteria utilize these particles as food almost immediately. As they digest these leftover food particles, they generate lactic acid that eats away dental enamel damaging it completely. Consuming acidic food along with poor oral hygiene actually accelerates the process of tooth decay by softening the enamel even more. The accumulated food particles also provide shelter for oral bacteria resulting in the formation of dental plaque. Dental plaque is nothing but a colony of oral bacteria that has solidified into place around the tooth and continues to damage tooth enamel by producing and holding acid in close contact to the tooth surface.
So what can do you?
This entire process starts because of poor diet. Most food items are healthy but it is a good idea to avoid these following items to ensure health teeth.

1. Apples are surprisingly acidic in nature. Dentists recommend you eat apples in moderation and rinse your mouth out immediately after.
2. Candies and chocolates are bad but hard candies are the worst. They take a long time to dissolve and patients tend to hold the candy in close contact with tooth surface causing long-term damage.
3. Sour food items like pickles, yoghurt and salad dressing are very high in vinegar and salt and they should be eaten in moderation.
4. Sticky foods like peanut butter, raisins, popco
and bread are inherently high in sugars and added sweeteners. Look for low-fat natural options or avoid them completely.
5. Processed foods like jelly, sports drinks and diet soda are very high in sugar and acids. Eat these food items in moderation and rinse your mouth out immediately to prevent damage.
Along with diet control, it also helps if you improve your oral hygiene. Rinse your mouth with mouthwash after every meal. After eating acidic food, wait for at least an hour before you brush. Use a soft toothbrush and don’t forget to floss.
Remember, an ounce of prevention in the form of diet control and better oral hygiene can literally be worth a pound of painful restorative dental work in the future!