How Your Diet Can Harm Your Teeth

The choices you make in your diet can have profound effects on your overall health. Along with brushing and flossing, maintaining a smart diet can provide big benefits for the health, and the appearance, of your teeth. Certain foods and drinks can affect the color of your teeth, and substances high in sugar can increase your risk for developing cavities. If you are worried about damaging teeth, you should be wary of foods that seem sticky, or have hard surfaces.

Protecting The Color Of Your Teeth

Foods and beverages that can ruin a white shirt can also stain your teeth. Coffee, teas, and sodas can discolor your enamel, and dull the brightness of your smile. Foods with richer, more intense coloring, like berries, can also stain teeth. Acidic products weaken your enamel, which will leave your teeth more vulnerable to staining. Your dentist can provide whitening treatments to help restore the color of your teeth.

Sugar And Cavities

The accumulated bacteria in your mouth creates a film, called plaque. When you consume products with sugar, the bacteria in your mouth respond to it by producing acids. The damage done by those acids create cavities. Brushing and flossing, and scheduling regular checkups and cleanings with your dentist, can help eliminate the plaque in your mouth, which can help reduce your cavity risk.

Hard Or Sticky Substances

Foods that are prone to sticking to teeth create a cavity risk. Bacteria can attack food lodged in or between teeth, and that prolonged attack can damage your enamel. Biting into something with a harder surface can put you at risk of chipping or cracking a tooth. If this occurs, you may need a cosmetic treatment from your dentist to cover the damage.