Experts say you are what you eat. And you can see that in no better place than your mouth. That’s because many foods and beverages can cause plaque build- up which can have serious health effects on your teeth. Plaque is a bacteria- filled sticky film that contributes to gum disease and tooth decay. After you eat a sugary snack or meal, the sugars cause the bacteria to release acids that attack tooth enamel. When the enamel breaks down, cavities can develop. Cavities cause complications like pain, chewing problems and tooth abscesses.
BREAD
Think twice as you walk down the supermarket bread aisle. When you chew bread, your
saliva breaks down the starches into sugar. When the bread becomes a gummy paste-like substance in your mouth, it sticks to the crevices between teeth. So, that can cause cavities. When you crave some carbs, aim for less-refined varieties like whole wheat. These contain less added sugars and they don’t break down easily.
CARBONATED DRINKS
Carbonated sodas enable plaque to produce more acid to attack tooth enamel. So, if you
sip soda all day, you essentially coat your teeth in acid. Plus, it dries out your mouth, meaning you have less saliva. And last but not least, dark-coloured sodas can discolour or stain your teeth. Notably don’t brush your teeth immediately after drinking a soda. This could actually hasten decay.
POTATO CHIPS
The crunch of a potato chip may be satisfying to many of us. But the chips have a lot of
starch. The starch becomes sugar that gets trapped on and between the teeth and feeds
the bacteria in the plaque. Since we often rarely have just one, the acid production from the chips lingers and lasts awhile. After you eat some, floss to remove the trapped particles.
ALCOHOL
Saliva prevents food from sticking to your teeth and washes away food particles. It even
helps repair early signs of tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral infections. To keep
your mouth hydrated, drink plenty of water and use fluoride rinses and oral hydration solutions.
DRIED FRUITS
You might assume that dried fruits are healthy snack. That may be true, but many dried fruits apricots, prunes, figs, and raisins, to name a few are sticky. If you do like to eat dried fruits, make sure you rinse your mouth with water. Then, brush and floss after and because they’re less concentrated with sugar, it’s a good idea to eat the fresh versions instead!
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