The Worst Foods You Can Eat

If you want to ruin your teeth, eating your way through this list is a good place to start. 

Because when it comes to damaging your teeth, not all foods are equal. Here are the foods that are best at being the worst for you.

What are the worst foods for your teeth? 

The worst foods for your teeth often combine several damaging properties together. Here are foods you should either avoid altogether, or make a plan to care for your teeth properly after consuming them. 

1. Cookie Sandwiches - You might know these black and white cookie sandwiches by their brand name, but no matter what you call them, they’re bad news for your teeth. That’s because they’re sugary, starchy, and sticky - a dangerous combination for those who want to maintain a healthy smile. 

2. Dried Cranberries - While dried cranberries do include some important nutrients, they can be especially problematic for the health of your mouth. Dried cranberries are acidic, sticky, and packed full of concentrated sugar, so it’s best to eat dried cranberries when you can make sure to follow them with water. 

3. Soft Drinks - Most of us know that soft drinks aren't exactly healthy, but soft drinks can be especially dangerous because they’re packed with more sugar than would naturally occur in most other foods, while being acidic. When you do have a soft drink, drink it with a straw. Also, make sure to have water nearby, so you can rinse the excess sugar out of your mouth, and help prevent cavities from forming. 

4. Pasta Sauce - The main ingredient of pasta sauce is tomatoes. You might be thinking - “How bad can tomatoes be?” While tomatoes are healthy, and include some important nutrients that are vital to your health, they’re also highly acidic. Pasta sauce delivers a one-two punch to your teeth, because it also contains high amounts of sugar. When paired with the carbs from pasta, this can break down your enamel while also feeding the bacteria that causes cavities. If you’re looking for the benefits of tomatoes, try eating fresh tomatoes on a salad, and be sure to rinse with water. 

5. Red Wine - While a glass of wine might be the perfect way to relax after a long day, it’s also the perfect way to damage your teeth.  That’s because wine is sugary, acidic, and can stain your teeth. It’s also often consumed at night, and if that’s the case for you, make sure to wait at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth, since the wine will actually temporarily soften your enamel, and brushing

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These types of food will ruin your teeth

1. Sticky Foods - Sticky foods can be especially damaging, for two reasons. First, the stickiness adheres the food to your teeth, so the damage that it causes is multiplied. Second, these foods are often also high in sugar, making them especially corrosive to your enamel. Examples of sticky foods to avoid include taffy, soft cookies, caramel, and gummy candies.

2. High Sugar Foods - Sugar increases the bacteria in your mouth, which can lead to decay, and ultimately, cavities. Avoid foods with high sugar content. Some of the worst offenders include soft drinks, sports and energy drinks, candy, and dried fruits. 

3. Acidic Foods - We don’t always think about acidity when it comes to the health of our teeth, but it can be a major culprit in damaging enamel. Foods and beverages that are highly acidic include citrus fruits and juices, coffee, cranberries, pickles, and wine.

4. Starchy Foods - Another cause of tooth decay that we may not think about immediately is starchy foods. Foods that contain high amounts of starch can be damaging, because they can tend to get lodged between teeth and stay there. Foods like breads, potato chips, or even french fries can fall into this category. When you do eat starchy foods, make sure to floss afterwards, so any food that may have gotten stuck can be dislodged. 

5. Hard Surface Foods - Teeth can be chipped by foods that are particularly hard. Common foods to be careful with in this category are popcorn kernels, rock candy, and meat that may still contain bones.

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What we can learn from this

While it’s never practical (or enjoyable) to 100% avoid foods that can damage your teeth, we should aim to reduce our intake, and when we do consume foods that have a higher likelihood of causing damage, we can be sure to take the right next steps.

Ultimately, even the most diligent protectors of their teeth need the help of dental professionals to ensure their teeth are healthy. Consider scheduling an appointment with us today, so we can partner together in protecting your oral health.

By making sure we’re careful about what we eat, and making sure we regularly see a dental professional, we can give our teeth a better chance of remaining healthy overtime, so we can enjoy them for years to come.