Although it has been noted over the years how bad sugar and acid are for teeth, they are not the only danger we regular consume. Here are four other products that aren’t doing anything to help your teeth and some may just surprise you.
Ice
A lot of people enjoy crunching through ice once they are finished consuming their cold beverage. Plus because it is water and not a sugary substance, people don’t think it can hurt their teeth. However, chewing on hard products such as ice can actually damage tooth enamel. This leaves teeth susceptible to other dental emergencies, including loosened crowns and chipped teeth.
Dried Fruit
According to dental tourism company, Dental Departures dried fruits such as prunes, dried apricots and sultanas are another product that hurt teeth. “All fruit contains natural sugars and once the water has been expunged, what’s left is highly concentrated with sugar. This is sticky and clings to teeth, trapping acid-producing bacteria.” So if you enjoy dried fruit, brush and floss immediately after consuming to ensure no sugar sticks.
Alcohol
The list of how alcohol can hurt your teeth is long. Firstly, red wine has a reputation for staining teeth and white wine is acidic, which erodes teeth enamel and leaves them more vulnerable to stains. Alcohol also causes dry mouth says orthodontist Dr Janice Yanni. “People who drink excessively may find their saliva flow is reduced over time, which can lead to tooth decay and other oral infections such as gum disease.” Yanni suggest gargling water after consuming white and red wines.
Hyper-pigmented foods
This includes foods such as beetroots, berries, mahogany soy sauce and deeply hued greens like kale, or anything that would stain a white t-shirt. Consuming them and not rinsing directly afterwards can cause them to deposit their colour onto teeth. Hyper-pigmented foods lead to a stained smile, which no one wants.
There are a lot of products out there that want to harm teeth. Ensure you remember these sneaky dangers and continue to visit your dentist (https://cliftonvilledental.co.uk) regularly to ensure your smile remains strong and sparkly.