Top 10 Foods and Drinks That Are Bad for Your Teeth and Gums

 The foods and drinks that you consume daily or at least regularly can have a great impact on the condition of your oral cavity. If you want to have healthy teeth and gums, it is better to pay sufficient attention to your diet. In this article, we have gathered the top 10 foods and drinks that are bad for your teeth and gums.

1. Candy

Candies are deemed one of the most harmful foods for your teeth. This is because they contain sugar that feeds on cavity-causing bacteria. Additionally, hard candies can scratch your teeth while sticky candies can attach to your teeth and promote bacterial overgrowth. Limiting sugar intake can help prevent the development of various oral issues.

2. Potato chips

It may seem that potato chips can affect only your hips and tummy, but the reality is that regular consumption of potato chips is also bad for your teeth and gums. Potato chips contain starch that turns into sugar. Chips can also get stuck between your teeth so you need to rinse your mouth and use dental floss to remove these particles.

3. Sweet soda

Sweet soda is double trouble for your teeth and gums. Firstly, it is full of sugar or sweeteners that feed on the bacteria. Secondly, soda water usually contains acids that soften and wear out your tooth enamel. Moreover, if sweet soda is colored, pigments can stain your tooth enamel.

4. Dried fruits

Indeed, dried fruits are deemed the healthier substitute for candies, but they can't be deemed completely healthy. This is because they still contain a lot of sugar. Dried fruits can be quite sticky which means that they can linger in the mouth. Additionally, some dried fruits contain added sugar.

5. Coffee

People who drink a lot of coffee usually undergo teeth whitening procedures more often. Coffee is an acidic drink that contains pigments. Acids soften your tooth enamel and pigments can get deeper and stain your teeth. That's why it is recommended to limit coffee consumption or add some milk to decrease acidity and provide your teeth with calcium.

6. Tomato sauces

Many people don't know that tomato sauce can also affect their teeth. But the truth is that tomato sauce is quite acidic and pigmented which can make your teeth dark. Additionally, it often contains added sugar that makes it quite harmful to your oral cavity.

7. Sports and energy drinks

Even though sports drinks appear to be healthy, they often include a lot of sugar. Acids and sugar in energy drinks can erode away your tooth enamel. That is why it is better to read the label on your next drink thoroughly to ensure it is sugar-free, or simply drink water.

8. Cookies and crackers

If you want to have a bite, it is better to replace cookies and crackers with nuts and seeds. The point is that cookies and crackers can become sticky and remain in your mouth for a long time. They also may contain sugar and other additives that may be harmful to your teeth.

9. Citrus fruits and juices

Indeed, citrus fruits are a great source of vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin C which prevents gum disease. But you should understand that regular consumption of citrus fruits and juices can wear out your tooth enamel since they contain a lot of acids.

10. Alcohol

Regular intake of alcoholic drinks can significantly affect your oral cavity. Manu alcohol beverages contain acids and pigments that cause teeth discoloration. Additionally, alcohol dries out your mouth that promotes bacterial overgrowth. That's why it is essential to stay hydrated when you drink alcohol