When it comes to snack foods, we think about the candy and the chips, but we don’t usually think about citrus foods. Turns out, all of these foods, while tasty they may be, can actually damage your teeth. Our staff is going to give you a look why these three foods are ones you should avoid in the future.
Who doesn’t love chips? Chips consist of refined carbohydrates that are easily converted into sugar once in your mouth, providing an excellent environment for cavities to form. Once chips are broken down in your mouth, it creates a putty texture, causing it to build up in the cracks and crevices of your teeth.
Candies like caramel or taffy are delicious. But they tend to stick to teeth for a long time, giving bacteria the opportunity to grow from candy’s sugar content. This bacterium causes the sugars from the candy to turn into acid, which dissolves tooth enamel, causing cavities. Hard candies will have the same effect, but may also cause your teeth to chip if you bite down on the candy the wrong way.
Citrus fruits and juices are rich in vitamin C and other nutrients, essential for a balanced diet, are not foods your teeth necessarily will benefit from. The acid in these foods can erode the enamel in your teeth slowly over time. Orange juice will generally cause the least amount of erosion and can be beneficial for your teeth when fortified with calcium.
Make sure that after you eat these foods to brush and floss your teeth, ensuring plaque and decay prevention. Give our office a call today at 541-699-4200 to schedule your teeth cleaning appointment.