We all know that what we eat affects our teeth. A healthy diet along with good dental hygiene can keep our teeth healthy and strong. Soda (including diet sodas), candy, and other starchy and sticky foods, on the other hand, can damage our teeth and weaken our enamel, even if we are practicing good dental hygiene.
So, it’s as simple as avoiding all the things we know that damage our teeth, right? Not exactly. That’s a good start, but there are a number of foods that are generally good for our bodies that might not be very good for our teeth. Here’s a list of a few of these surprising foods.
Apples
“An apple a day, keeps the doctor away,” as the old saying goes. Apples are nutritious and tasty, making them great snacks, but they have the potential to damage teeth too. Because apples are rich in natural sugars and acids, they can be hard on our enamel. As long as you rinse your mouth by drinking some water and follow daily brushing guidelines, eating an apple a day shouldn’t be a problem.
Popcorn
A favorite light snack of many, popcorn is an office favorite. The problem is, popcorn kernels can get stuck in your teeth, where bacteria is more prevalent. When bacteria have food particles to break down, acid is generally the result, meaning that your teeth are weakened. The best way to avoid this after eating a bag of popcorn is to drink some water to wash away the acid and floss out any kernels that you have stuck in your teeth.
Pickled Vegetables
Vegetables are healthy, and we can most likely all stand to eat more of them. Pickled vegetables, on the other hand, are pickled in brine that consists of an acid—namely vinegar and sometimes sugar. Sugar and acid are our teeth’s worst enemies. If you love eating a pickle throughout the day, make sure you follow it with some water to wash away the acid.
At the end of the day, a healthy diet is going to greatly impact your oral health. When eating anything, including “unhealthy” foods in moderation, following oral hygiene best practices will prevent unwanted cavities and other dental problems.