The 8 worst foods for teeth and 4 ways to help fight the damage

Foods that hurt:

–Citric fruit

It seems strange that fruits like lemons and grapefruits, which are rich in vitamin C and offer your body great nutritional value, can be so bad for your teeth. In addition to their high vitamin content, they are also extremely acidic, which means they will wear down your enamel over time. Since these fruits are great for your health, you shouldn’t avoid them completely, just limit the amount you eat per day and brush afterwards.

–Hard and chewy candies

Chewy candies like taffy or marshmallows stick to your teeth for a long time, giving bacteria more time to interact with the sugar and produce acid that erodes enamel. Hard candy, while not as sticky, stays in your mouth for an extended period of time as it dissolves, bathing your teeth in sugary residue. Many sour and chewy candies are also flavored with citric acid, the same substance that makes lemons and limes dangerous for tooth enamel.

–Pickles

Pickled cucumbers, or any pickled food, are created by soaking the food in acid, usually vinegar-based. However, most people don’t eat pickles regularly, so having one now and then is unlikely to affect your overall dental health.

–soda

Most people know that sugary sodas are bad for your teeth, but you may not realize that even sugar-free diet sodas still contain large amounts of enamel-eroding citric acid and phosphorous. If you absolutely can’t do without sodas, try drinking them at meal times instead of throughout the day. Your brush and/or rinse after meals will help neutralize acids.

–Sports and Energy Drinks

They may seem like a healthier alternative to soda, but most sports and energy drinks are even more acidic than soda and can be more damaging to your teeth when consumed regularly.

–Wine

Red wines can stain your teeth, but even white wines contain erosive acids that allow stains to actually penetrate your teeth. The tannins contained in red wine also tend to dry out the mouth, preventing the flow of saliva from washing away the acids.

–pretzels

Crackers and other types of white flour-based crackers contain high amounts of refined carbohydrates, which are quickly converted to sugar (and, in turn, acid) by carb-loving bacteria in your mouth. Cookies also tend to turn into a sticky, paste-like substance when chewed, allowing them to penetrate the creases of your teeth. Since cookies are unlikely to be a big part of your diet, it’s fine to eat them once in a while, but be sure to brush your teeth afterward.

–Coffee

Coffee is another surprising source of stains, and it’s also, you guessed it, quite acidic. Compared with smokers and tea drinkers, coffee drinkers’ teeth stains are often more resistant to discoloration or whitening, and are more likely to re-stain after treatment.

Foods that help:

–sugar free gum

It’s not technically a food, but it’s a great weapon against the acid that causes cavities. Chewing sugar-free gum after meals stimulates saliva production, which helps remove harmful material and food debris from your teeth. Sugar-free chewing gum is often sweetened with a chemical called xylitol, which also helps fight bacteria.

–Water

This seems obvious, but many Americans don’t drink enough water. In addition to helping remove acid and debris from teeth, most US cities add fluoride to tap water to help fight cavities.

–Dairy products

Dairy is the main source of calcium for most people. Getting enough calcium is one of the best ways to keep your teeth strong and healthy. Many people are lactose intolerant these days, so if you’re one of those people, take a calcium supplement to make sure you’re getting enough.

–High fiber leafy vegetables

Vegetables like spinach and broccoli provide your body with a huge dose of nutrients, and they’re also great for your teeth because they require a lot of chewing. All that chewing stimulates your salivary glands to produce more, and the food itself helps clean your teeth as you chew.