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Many people don\u2019t realize that part of keeping good oral health isn\u2019t only about brushing, flossing, and visiting a dentist in West Mobile every six months for dental exams and cleanings. A large part of it also has to do with the foods you eat on a daily basis as well as how often you expose your mouth to certain foods.<\/p>\n
To help you stay protected, try your best to limit your consumption of these five types of foods.<\/p>\n
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One of the main reasons soda and sports drinks are so terrible for teeth is the amount of sugar they contain. The reason our teeth develop plaque is because oral bacteria consumes sugar almost immediately after entering the mouth, causing it to release acids as a byproduct. This acid forms plaque and attacks tooth enamel, causing decay and cavities to form. Soda is also quite acidic due to the phosphoric and citric acids it contains. Next time you\u2019re enjoying a movie or participating in an active sport, opt for plain water instead.<\/p>\n
Not only is hard candy basically 100 percent sugar, but it can easily crack a tooth if not handled properly. Hard candy also dissolves slowly in the mouth, allowing it to coat the teeth for long periods of time, increasing your risk of decay even more. The same goes for sticky foods which can easily get caught in between teeth and in hard-to-reach areas of the mouth. Even dried fruit can be dangerous for teeth, so opt for sugarless gum instead.<\/p>\n
People tend to forget that starch is also consumed by oral bacteria all the time due to the mouth\u2019s pre-digestion process. Bacteria loves eating popcorn and potato chips, especially when it gets stuck in between teeth and forgotten about. If you do consume these foods, make sure that you\u2019re drinking plenty of fluids to keep saliva production high. Avoid snacking on them for long periods of time and opt for a healthy fruit, vegetable, cheese or nut instead.<\/p>\n
Whether it\u2019s a martini or glass of beer, alcohol causes dry mouth and dehydrates your body. This makes it more difficult for the mouth to produce saliva and wash away bacteria. Heavy alcohol use can even increase your risk of mouth cancer, so make sure not to binge drink if you do indulge once in a while.<\/p>\n
People are typically caught off guard when they hear ice is bad for their teeth, but chewing it can easily erode your enamel. When chewed, it can also crack or chip your teeth quite easily. Keep in mind that once enamel is worn down, it\u2019s gone for good, so stick to chewing gum or simply sucking on the ice instead of chewing it.<\/p>\n
Diet plays a big role in protecting your oral health, so watch out for these foods at your next social gathering. To make sure you\u2019re not at higher risk of decay, schedule an appointment today!<\/p>\n
Dr. Hube Parker\u2019s<\/a> office is in close proximity to the University of South Alabama, residing just south of the campus on University Blvd. We hope that by being close to campus, we can help students maintain proper oral health as they complete their higher education, without risk of dental disease. To learn more about our practice, you can contact us through our website<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Many people don\u2019t realize that part of keeping good oral health isn\u2019t only about brushing, flossing, and visiting a dentist in West Mobile every six months for dental exams and cleanings. A large part of it also has to do with the foods you eat on a daily basis as well as how often you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-228","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n