It’s no secret that your habits affect the health of your smile. Brushing twice a day is beneficial; smoking is not. But did you know that your diet can also have a big impact on how your teeth look and function?
Read on to learn about five foods that you should avoid — or at least consume carefully and in moderation — if you’re looking to keep your smile beautiful for years to come, as well as ways in which we can help you prevent and undo the damage. Then, if you’re looking for high-quality dental care in Attleboro, MA, call Attleboro Family Dental Care at 508-222-2510 to schedule an appointment!
1. Sugar
This is an obvious one. We’re told practically our entire lives that sugar contributes to cavities. When sugars — which are even found in foods you might not expect, such as carb-heavy breads and pastas — linger on your teeth and under the gumline, it becomes a feeding frenzy for harmful bacteria.
This bacteria can cause infection (like gum disease), and it releases a weak acid that eats away at your enamel. This is the primary driver of tooth decay. Watching your sugar intake and making necessary adjustments can seriously save your smile.
While it’s important to cut back if you tend to consume a lot of sugar, it’s also important to adjust how you consume it. For example, prolonged exposure to a single soft drink — like if you’re drinking a large soft drink over the period of an 8-hour workday — can actually be worse for your teeth than drinking it in an hour’s time.
Of course, prevention is always best. But if sugar has already resulted in cavities, we can help you repair the damage with natural-looking, tooth-colored fillings.
2. Citrus
Citric acids, like any acidic substance, erode tooth enamel. This leaves your teeth susceptible to tooth decay and cavities. Beyond cutting back on the lemons and limes, we can recommend fluoride treatments that help preserve and even strengthen your enamel.
3. Coffee & Tea
They’re great to help you wake up in the morning, but they’re not so great for your smile. Repeated exposure to coffee and tea — as well as other problematic beverages like red wine — can result in dental staining that dulls your smile.
Luckily, the professionals at Attleboro Family Dental Care can help remove stubborn stains with professional-grade at-home whitening products that are more effective and safer than the bleaching treatments you’ll find at the drugstore.
4. Dried Fruit
It’s fruit, so it has to be healthy — right? Not so much.
These and other sticky, chewy treats easily get stuck in the hard-to-clean grooves and crevices of teeth. That means it’s difficult to remove the sugary particles that drive tooth decay and gum disease.
5. Soft Drinks
Consuming all that sugar in the form of a liquid is a sugary assault on your teeth! Water is always the best choice, but there is some good news if it’s the carbonation you crave. Recent studies show that sparkling water can help you get your fizzy fix without the sugar.
Comprehensive Care In A Convenient Location
At Attleboro Family Dental Care, our team of experts can advise you on the best foods for your smile! We also offer a wide variety of other preventative dentistry services, such as routine exams and cleanings for the whole family! Call us at 508-222-2510 to schedule an appointment.