Think about all you eat in a day: Your teeth go through a lot, don’t they? Breakfast, lunch, dinner, midnight snack (or two!)—there’s a bunch of stuff your teeth are breaking down, biting, and chewing into. And let’s be honest, probably a bit of that food isn’t too good for you. The same is true for your teeth. Here are some of the worst foods for your teeth that you can eat. 

Bread

Believe it or not, bread isn’t the best for your teeth. When chewing bread, your saliva breaks down the starches into sugar. This sugary mix becomes lodged into the nooks and crannies of your teeth, which can cause cavities. However, there is some good news. Less refined bread, like whole wheat, doesn’t have as many sugars and is more difficult to break down. This carb option is not only better for you, but it’s better for your teeth too!

Ice

But it’s just water, right? That isn’t an excuse if you choose to chew rather than chill. Chewing on hard substances erodes enamel and can even lead to chipped, cracked, or broken teeth. Those with crowns also need to watch out: Chewing on ice can cause crowns to wiggle loose or free. 

Chips

You can’t have just one. But potato chips have the same problem posed by highly refined bread. Chips are chocked full of starch, which converts to sugar when you chew—resulting in plaque-favorable conditions. Be sure to floss afterward if you end up eating through a bag!

Alcohol & Soda

Yes, two of our guiltiest pleasures are not very teeth-friendly. Alcohol actually dries out our mouth, eliminating much-needed saliva. If you didn’t know, our saliva helps cleanse our teeth of foodstuff and keep particles from collecting on (and between) our teeth. Saliva even restores some early stages of gum disease, oral infection, and tooth decay. 

Soda produces the same effect as alcohol, causing dry mouth. Darker sodas can also stain and even discolor teeth. Sipping soda throughout the day can devastate our teeth. It’s essentially bathing your teeth in acid, which allows plaque to eat away at the enamel. 

Sour Candies & Gummies

Candy’s notoriety when it comes to teeth health is well known. Sour candies and gummies go a step further; they’re highly acidic and abrasive on teeth. This, coupled with their chewiness, makes them more likely to get stuck on and in between teeth. 
Protecting your teeth keeps your mouth healthy and able to eat the foods you love. You can do this by eating better (and avoiding these foods as much as possible), regular flossing and brushing, and going to the dentist. Schedule an appointment with LeCroy Dental today, and remember to keep coming back to our blog for all the oral hygiene knowledge you need!