Do you take care of your oral hygiene? It could be time to up your game. A massive 96% of Canadian adults have a history of dental cavities, according to the latest government statistics. While flossing and cleaning your teeth is one way to keep them healthy, you should also consider your nutrition. The stats also show that 12% of us avoid certain foods to protect our dental health. Let’s take a look at 20 types of food and drinks that cause cavities.
Cookies
Are you a secret Cookie Monster? Sugar-centric foods, such as sweet cookies, could increase your chances of getting cavities, according to information from the Government of Quebec. Looking for low-sugar alternatives or an altogether different type of snack could be one way to look after your oral hygiene in the long term.
Fruit drinks
Having a tall glass of orange juice may seem like a smart move for your health, but could it be causing harm to your teeth? One report from the Ontario Dental Hygienists’ Association suggests that these drinks could be high in acid and sugars, which may lead to tooth enamel damage and decay.
Alcohol
You might want to cancel cocktail hour! Research from the University of Rochester Medical Center suggests that drinking alcohol could lead to problems with your teeth. The reason is that these drinks tend to dry your mouth out, which could lead to dental issues. Consider speaking to a dentist about this problem.
Chewing gum
Chewing gum is a bad habit that many of us need to curb sooner rather than later. Information from the Ontario Dental Hygienists’ Association suggests that this snack could be linked to cavities. Switching to a sugar-free option may be the way to go if you’re hoping to protect your teeth. It could also be worth speaking to your dentist about this.
Iced tea
There’s nothing quite like a refreshing glass of ice tea on a hot summer's day. However, if you’re a fan of this particular drink, you may want to switch things up. The report from the Ontario Dental Hygienists’ Association also suggests that iced tea may be to blame for cavities, given that it’s quite acidic and sugary.
Cough drops
When you’ve got a tickle in your throat, getting some fast relief is sure to be the only thing on your mind. Reaching for some cough drops could be an obvious solution. Sadly, the advice from the University of Rochester Medical Center is to avoid this trap. Since you suck on cough drops for a long time, the sugar from them stays in your mouth.
Sports drinks
After a killer gym session, you may want to get some energy with a tasty sports drink. Unfortunately, these beverages could also be playing havoc with your teeth. The report from the Ontario Dental Hygienists’ Association suggests that many of these are high in both acid and sugar, meaning that they could damage your teeth.
Soft bread
Fancy having a sandwich for lunch? If you happen to use soft bread for these meals, you may be putting your oral hygiene at risk. The University of Rochester Medical Center suggests that these products may contain high levels of sugar. When the bread gets caught in your teeth, it could damage them and lead to cavities.
Sweets and candy
Do you have a sweet tooth? If you adore nothing more than snacking on some sugary treats, you may need to change your diet for the better. Information from the Government of Quebec suggests that this habit could be a risk factor when it comes to causing cavities. What’s more, the problem is even worse if you happen to eat your sweets in the evening.
Pickles
Whether you put them on your burger or enjoy them as a salty snack, pickles are simply delicious. Despite this fact, eating too many of them could be doing harm to your teeth. The report from the Ontario Dental Hygienists’ Association suggests that these are high in acidic value, which may lead to tooth decay in time.
Cake
Can you have your cake and eat it? Not if you want to have healthy dental hygiene. The same report from the Ontario Dental Hygienists’ Association advises that cake could be linked to cavities. This sugary snack should be a treat rather than an everyday staple. If you’re worried about this issue, speak to a dental health professional.
Regular soda
Carbonated soda drinks tend to contain high amounts of sugar. According to the Ontario Dental Hygienists’ Association, that means that they could be a harmful choice when it comes to your dental health. Trying to curb the habit and drink fewer of these beverages is one way in which you could prevent dental health issues.
Diet soda
Switching from regular soda to a diet alternative may seem like a logical move. However, these variations of standard drinks could be causing damage to your tooth enamel. Advice from the Ontario Dental Hygienists’ Association suggests that diet drinks may contain acids that put your dental health at risk. Drink water throughout the day as a safe alternative.
Milk
Having a milky drink before you hit the hay could help calm you down and prepare you for sleep. When you’re asleep, though, your mouth produces less saliva, which means that it does not protect itself well from sugars. For that reason, a report from the Government of Quebec suggests avoiding this beverage in the evening.
Potato chips
When you’re feeling peckish, having a bag of potato chips might seem like no big deal. If you want to take care of your teeth, though, you may want to avoid these snacks altogether. Information from the University of Rochester Medical Center suggests that these can get stuck in your teeth and cause them to decay over time.
Honey
If you’re a lover of honey, you need to hear this next piece of advice. The Ontario Dental Hygienists’ Association suggests that you avoid sticky, sugary food products such as this one. These products stick to your teeth when you consume them, which could lead to dental problems and cavities in the long term.
Salad dressing
Are you on a health kick? Eating a delicious salad for lunch may seem like one of the best moves you can make. Despite this, you should be mindful of the dressing that you use. Many salad dressings are high in acids and, according to the Ontario Dental Hygienists’ Association, they could lead to cavities
Lollipops
Sucking on a lollipop for a long period of time is perhaps one of the worst things you can do for your teeth. Research from the University of Rochester Medical Center suggests that this habit could lead to cavities. Since you are keeping the sugar from the candy in your mouth for a long period, it may mean that you have a high chance of dental issues.
Granola bars
Eating a granola bar may be a healthy alternative to either candy or chocolate. However, these treats could still be damaging your teeth. Since they are sticky and sweet, they can stay on your teeth for a long period. According to the Ontario Dental Hygienists’ Association, this issue could be a risk factor for cavities.
Raisins
Similarly, raisins could be more damaging to your tooth enamel than you ever imagined. The Ontario Dental Hygienists’ Association also advises steering clear of these fruit-based snacks. As they are chewy and high in fructose (i.e. fruit sugars), you may find that they increase your risk of dental cavities.
If you’re at all concerned about your oral hygiene, it could be worth speaking to a dentist.
Charlotte Grainger, Espresso
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