Normal mouth bacteria exist for everyone. Some microorganisms are hazardous to oral health.

According to a dental hospital in Abu Dhabi, after eating sugary, acidic, and starchy foods or drinks, your mouth’s microorganisms break down even the smallest carbs. Unfortunately, these food-digesting acids also wear down dental enamel. This chemical process produces plaque, a bacteria-filled layer that hardens to tartar if left. Plaque and tartar build up cause persistent bad breath, dirty teeth, and gum disease. Plaque can cause cavities and gingivitis, damaging your teeth and oral health.

Foods that cause risks to dental health

1. Sugary Drinks

Fruit juices, soda, sports drinks, and energy drinks are sugary. Even sugar-free drinks are acidic, which can damage enamel. Sugary drinks coat your mouth in acids that erode tooth enamel. They also dry out your mouth, preventing saliva from cleaning your teeth. Replace these sugary drinks with water, tea, coconut water, sparkling water, etc. Limiting these drinks is advised, but if you must, drink them using a straw to avoid teeth contact.

2. Hard, chewy candies

Sugary hard and gummy candies adhere to your teeth and nourish microorganisms. Their texture makes them stick in your mouth, prolonging plaque generation and causing damage and decay. This includes gummy worms, caramels, jelly beans, hard sweets, lollipops, and more. Sour candies are sugary and acidic, making them a double-whammy. These foods should be avoided or eaten moderately. If you want something sweet, try an apple. Their high fibre content and alkaline saliva stimulation can prevent plaque damage.

3. Coffee

Coffee, sweetened or black, is acidic and can damage dental enamel. Coffee contains tannins, which attach to teeth and stain them. Creamers and sugar have the same effects as sugary drinks, thus black coffee is best. If you can’t give up coffee, drink it through a straw and brush your teeth afterward.

4. Pickled Foods

Acidic vinegar-rich foods can erode enamel, demineralize teeth, and discolour them. Since vinegar is essential to pickling, eat pickled foods in moderation. Drink water to rinse your mouth after eating pickled items or eat them with cheese to reduce their acidity.

5. Refined Carbs

Starch-filled, refined carbohydrates are linked to cavities and tooth decay because starch digests into sugar. Starch can sneak between your teeth and cause plaque. Crackers, potato chips, white bread, pastries and desserts, white rice, cookies, cereal, sugar, agave syrup, high fructose corn syrup, pasta, and artificial sweeteners are refined carbs. Replace these with whole grains wherever possible. Brush and floss after eating refined carbohydrates to remove food particles.

6. Alcohol

Alcohol reduces saliva production, drying out the mouth and creating plaque. Beer and wine are acidic, which erodes enamel. Red wine, like coffee, contains tannins that discolour teeth. Beer can stain due to its acidity, malts, and dark barley. Other alcoholic drinks can encourage plaque growth with sugar. Brush your teeth and drink lots of water before drinking tannin-rich wine to reduce plaque. Do not brush right after because the alcohol’s acid can stain your teeth.

7. Certain Fruits

Highly acidic fruits include lemons, grapefruits, oranges, limes, pineapples, and grapes. They degrade enamel and increase decay risk. Dried fruits including raisins, prunes, dates, figs, cherries, apricots, pineapple, and others are acidic and stick to your teeth and increase harmful bacteria like gummy candy. Limit these foods, drink water to rinse, and floss.

8. Ice

The water in ice is harmless, but its roughness can damage your teeth. Ice can break, chip, or crack teeth. It damages enamel and loosens crowns. Avoid chewing ice to avoid this issue.

9. Apple Cider Vinegar

As said, vinegar is acidic and can wear away enamel, rendering teeth more prone to injury and decay. Undiluted apple cider vinegar can erode enamel and cause tooth decay. Consume this food diluted to reduce these effects. Regular brushing, flossing, and avoiding or restricting the foods listed can reduce food-related plaque accumulation.

Regular dental appointments dental hospital in Abu Dhabi can prevent tooth decay and cavities in addition to good oral hygiene. Dental Clinic Abu Dhabi is proud of its sympathetic dental professionals who help you stay healthy.

Make an appointment today in a dental clinic Abu Dhabi, to improve your dental health.