Are you scoring oral own goals?
We all know how important it is to have a healthy mouth and teeth – if you’ve ever experienced dental pain and discomfort, the chances are you probably don’t want to repeat it.
Your chances of a healthy mouth are vastly improved by maintaining regular dental hygiene habits.
But they’re only half the story – what you eat and drink is incredibly important too, and we quite often see people who are great at brushing and flossing, but don’t have the healthy mouth they want, all because of what goes in it; an oral own goal.
With that in mind, I thought I’d run through some of the worst culprits, so you’ve got all the information you need to keep your mouth as healthy as possible:
Sugary Sweets and Chocolates
No surprise here – sugar is a problem, because it interacts with bacteria in your mouth and creates acid that eats away at your enamel.
Hard sweets are even worst, because they coat your teeth in sugar AND can cause chips and cracks, while sticky sweets like toffees cling to your teeth, so they’re constantly exposed to the corrosive power of sugar.
Fizzy Drinks
Fizzy drinks are often full of sugar and are high acidic. We’ve covered the problem with sugar above, but the acid plays its part too, wearing down enamel and making you more susceptible to cavities. Even sugar-free drinks can have high acid content, so I’d recommend using a straw and rinsing your mouth with water after if you are going to indulge.
Citrus fruits and juices
Yes, fruit does have plenty of vitamins in it, but citrus fruits like oranges, lemons and grapefruits also have plenty of acid in. Citrus juices make matters worse because they often also contain added sugar.
Coffee and tea
Your daily dose of caffeine might get your through the day, but both tea and coffee can stain your teeth over time. They also both contain acid, which can wear down your enamel, and don’t get me started on adding sugar to them!
Once again, if you are drinking coffee and tea, try adding a glass of water alongside it, and maybe using a straw.
Dried fruits
Dried fruits like raisins and apricots may seem healthy, but they often contain concentrated sugars and are sticky, which means they can stick to your teeth and promote decay. Fresh fruits are a better option because they contain more water and are less likely to stick to your teeth.
Crisps and starchy snacks
Starchy snacks like crisps, bread, and pasta can be just as damaging as sugary treats because they break down into simple sugars when you chew them – these can get stuck in your teeth and feed harmful bacteria. Flavoured crisps are often worse as they usually contain sugar.
Alcohol
Alcohol can harm your teeth in several ways – many drinks are acidic, while alcohol can also dry your mouth out and reduce saliva production, which can increase your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Spirits with mixers and alcopops can be the worst offenders because they also contain lots of sugar.
If you are going to indulge, drinking plenty of water is important.
Ice
We’ve all got that one friend (or maybe it’s us!) that just loves chewing ice. It might seem harmless, but it can seriously damage your teeth – it can cause chips and cracks, and lead to increased sensitivity and other dental issues.
Right, that’s enough of the doom and gloom – at least you know where you are now!
Next week I’ll come back with the positive spin: what you can consume that will help, not hinder your oral hygiene.
Ketan
