Regular brushing, flossing and dental cleanings are just some of the many different ways you can take care of your overall good oral health.
Diet is also important in ensuring the positive oral health, here are a few foods to watch out for.
Coffee
All you coffee drinkers out there knew this was coming, right? Coffee stains your teeth. Specifically, the tannic acids- they’re responsible for your brownish teeth, but they’re far more insidious than that. They gradually wear down your enamel and are difficult to wash away. Side note; this is also the same thing that keeps the taste (and scent) of coffee lingering in your mouth way after you’re done with your cuppa.
Citrus Fruits (Limes, Grapefruit, etc)
This might be a shocker to many of us! But what isn’t a surprise is that these fruits are packed with citric acid. We may have heard that citric acid is good for brightening skin, but the same definitely can’t be said for your teeth. The citric acid, perhaps to no one’s surprise, is acidic- and all acids are damaging to your enamel if they linger around for too long.
Good news- there is a way around it. Simply finish your OJ at one go and don’t sit sipping on it for hours. A good reminder is that anything that is acidic or stains is probably not good for your teeth. Buy a reusable straw if you regularly drink juices, as straws reduce contact of the juice with your teeth.
Candy/Dried Fruit
They aren’t the same thing, with the latter being better no doubt. But is this surprising to anyone? Candy is the number one cause of enamel wear, plaque buildup, and cavities. Sugar is notorious for sitting around in the tiny crevices of your teeth and gums and feeding the bacteria with lots of energy. Lollipops and other hard candies are the worst of the lot- since they stay so long in your mouth.
Dried fruit on the other hand usually sticks to your teeth, again, breeding hoards of bacteria encouraging it to eat away at your teeth over time.
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