What you consume is only part of the picture when it comes to a healthy mouth, but it’s a big part.  While what you eat and drink contributes to the health of your mouth, there is no replacement for keeping up with daily dental hygiene and regular visits to your dentist.  Unfortunately, some diseases and medications can affect your oral health, but you can help counteract some of the negative side effects on your mouth by avoiding things on the bad list.  If you just can’t live without something that is listed below, talk to your dentist about a good substitutes or ways to counteract the negative side effects.

If you are searching for an affordable Manahawkin dentist, our readers recommend Bayside Dentistry.

Here’s what our local Manahawkin dentist recommends:

Sugary foods – We all know sugar is bad for your teeth, but why?  It’s not the sugar that affects our teeth negatively, but the chain of events that happens after we eat sugar.  Our mouths are filled with bacteria, but with daily dental hygiene, the bad bacteria is kept under control.  However, certain bad bacteria can feed on the sugar we eat which kicks starts a ripple effect of negative actions.  When you eat sugar, the bad bacteria uses that sugar to produce acid which begins to eat away at dental enamel contributing to tooth decay.  Some high sugar foods and drink to avoid are candy, dried fruit, soda, and fruit juices.

Starchy foods – How could bread possibly be bad for your teeth?  Things like bread, pasta, crackers and chips are made from simple carbohydrates which can remain in your mouth, break down, and produce sugar.  After that, refer to the paragraph above!  Starchy foods tend to be sticky as well with the higher likelihood of particles getting trapped in your teeth and gums.

Alcohol – Not only can certain alcohols stain your teeth, they can also contribute to dry mouth.  Most alcohol is acidic which erodes your enamel leading to cavities and decay.  Alcohol can also be a big contributing factor to dry mouth.  When your mouth lacks saliva, you are at a higher risk of dental disease because saliva is a major component of a healthy mouth.

Citrus – Citrus fruits are high in acid and as already discussed, this leads to damage to your enamel causing sensitivity and decay.  In order to avoid the negative effect of citrus fruits, follow some simple rules.  Drink fruit juices with a straw, never place highly acidic foods right against your teeth, and drink plenty of water during and after consumption.

Chewing on ice – How in the world can ice be bad for your teeth?  It’s not the actual ice that is damaging, but the chewing that’s the harmful part.  Chewing on ice can lead to cracked and chipped teeth, damaged enamel, and sensitivity.

Most people hate going to the dentist because it can be painful and can bring with it a lot of bad news and future visits.  By avoiding the types of foods and drinks in this article, you can make those regular trips to your trusted Manahawkin dentist much more enjoyable and you can avoid any additional appointments!