Sugar, acid, and foods that stay in your mouth for longer than necessary are all guilty of worsening your oral health. From dissolving enamel and  promoting negative bacteria growth to downright decay, there are some foods you should be sure to moderate or take out of your diet altogether. Keep reading to learn more from Dr. Gordon C. Honig and Dr. Lisa Honig at Honig Orthodontics about which foods pose a threat to your dental health.

What Foods are the Worst for Enamel?

We all know that sugary foods can wreak havoc on our teeth, but did you know there are other foods out there that can be just as damaging to your oral health? Here are some of the worst offenders when it comes to harming your enamel:

1. Sticky or Hard Candy: Candies that are sticky, like taffy or caramels, can actually pull at your tooth enamel and cause it to break down.

2. Sour Candy: Sour candies are full of acidic ingredients that can eat away at your tooth enamel.

3. Coffee and Tea: Both coffee and tea can stain your teeth and make them look yellow over time. But they can also cause more serious damage to your enamel if you drink them regularly without brushing afterward.

4. Wine: Wine is another beverage that can cause serious staining to your teeth. But red wine in particular is also quite acidic, which means it can contribute to the breakdown of your tooth enamel.

5. Citrus Fruits: Citrus fruits are high in acidity, which means they can erode your tooth enamel over time if you eat them too often. So if you love oranges, lemons, or citrus flavoring, you aren’t doing your teeth any favors.

What foods are the Worst for your Breath?

When it comes to your oral health, the foods you eat can have a big impact – for better or for worse. In addition to promoting good oral hygiene habits, like brushing and flossing regularly, eating the right foods can help keep your mouth healthy and your breath smelling great. On the other hand, consuming certain foods can contribute to bad breath and other oral health problems.

We all know that sugary foods are not good for our teeth, but did you know that they can also cause bad breath? Sugar is a major food source for the bacteria that live in our mouths, and when these bacteria feed on sugar, they produce harmful acids that can damage our teeth. In addition, the sticky nature of sugar can cause it to linger on our teeth, promoting the growth of bacteria. To avoid these problems, limit your intake of sugary foods and be sure to brush and floss thoroughly after eating them.

Surprisingly, milk, cheese, and peanut butter can cause bad breath. While dairy products are an important part of a healthy diet, they can also contribute to bad breath. Milk and Peanut butter both have proteins that prevent the breakdown of bacteria in your mouth, causing some bad breath. 

Foods That Seem Healthy – But Really Aren’t

We all know that sugary and acidic foods are bad for our teeth. But there are some other, seemingly healthy foods, that can also wreak havoc on our oral health. 

For example, did you know that dried fruit is actually one of the worst things you can eat for your teeth? Dried fruit is full of sugar, which can lead to cavities, and it’s also very sticky, so it can easily get stuck in your teeth and cause decay. 

Similarly, many people think that crunchy fruits and vegetables are good for their teeth because they help clean them. However, these foods can actually be harmful because they can wear down the enamel on your teeth. So while you may be getting a little bit of a scrub from eating an apple, you could also be doing damage to your teeth in the process. 

Of course, this doesn’t mean you should avoid these foods altogether. Just be sure to brush and floss after eating them, and see your dentist regularly to keep your smile healthy and bright.