Your diet may have more of an impact on your oral health than you realize. There are certain foods and drinks that can cause serious problems with your teeth. Dr. Karl Neuhaus of Creekside Dentistry, a dentist in Amherst, NY, lists some of these foods and why you should avoid them.

1. Hard Candy

You probably know that chewy candy isn’t great for your teeth. It gets stuck in between and in the crevices of molars. But hard candy isn’t a suitable substitute. While it doesn’t get stuck in your teeth, it releases sugar into your mouth while it dissolves. Harmful oral bacteria then consume it and emit an acidic byproduct. This leads to tooth decay and issues with cavities.

Hard candy can also cause damage to your teeth. If you bite down before the candy is fully dissolved or at the wrong angle, your teeth can get damaged. If you’re lucky, your tooth may only chip cosmetically. However, you can also suffer from a severe break or crack. This can lead to a need for restorative dentistry to get your tooth back to normal.

2. Dried Fruit

Fruit is usually seen as a suitable substitute to take care of your sweet tooth. However, you should stick to the fresh form. Dried fruit is more concentrated with sugar and can lose some of the nutrients during the drying process. It also has a similar texture to chewy candy. The combination of these two is a recipe for disaster for your smile.

3. Chips and Crackers

You may not see many sugars on the labels for these items. But they’re both starches, which means they break down into sugars as you’re chewing and digesting them. The small broken pieces of chips tend to get stuck in between teeth, while crackers turn into a paste that gets stuck in the crevices of your molars. If you’re going to have these salty snacks, rinse your mouth out with water after.

4. Sports Drinks

These may be the thing you turn to because you think they’re healthier than soda or energy drinks. However, if you check the labels, they often contain as much sugar as those drinks —  or even more. Many of them are flavored with citric acid as well. This combination is very bad for your teeth. Try your best to focus on drinking water as your primary beverage.

5. Ice

Water is one of the best things for your oral health when it’s in its liquid form. But ice has many of the same problems as hard candy. If you bite down at the wrong angle or wrong time, it can cause damage to your teeth. An ice chewing habit also increases how fast your teeth get worn down. Make sure ice is just used to make your water cooler and not as a snack.

Regular Checkups at Your Amherst, New York Dentist

Preventative care is crucial for maintaining your smile and ensuring that your diet isn’t ruining it. Call us or schedule an appointment online.