That fat free muffin that you had for
breakfast may be better for your waistline, but it could be disastrous for your
teeth and gums. Starchy foods become trapped between your teeth. Once your
saliva starts breaking down the sugar plaque begins to form. If your lunch
consisted of soup, salad and lots of bread, make sure that you eat the salad
after you enjoy that delicious breadbasket, as the crunchy vegetables will help
clear the starch. A good Dentist will advise you to rinse after eating and keep floss, a toothbrush and
toothpaste handy. Of course, starchy foods aren’t the only things that are
unhealthy for your teeth and gums.
According to the Huffington Post, Starbursts, gummy bears, and other sticky
candies are delicious treats, but that satisfaction that you are enjoying now
could turn into a not so pleasant time in the dentist’s chair thanks to tooth
decay. Sticky candy sticks to the back and sides of your teeth and can be
difficult to remove. Those caramels that your Aunt Martha gave you for your
birthday sure taste good, but your toothbrush will have a tough time removing
the sticky goo. If you must indulge brush your teeth immediately with warm
water as the heat can help, “Melt,” some of the leftover sticky candy.
Everyone knows that red wine, coffee, and tea
will stain your teeth. No matter how much you spend on tooth whitening
products, if you indulge too much, your teeth will pay the price. Tooth Whitening is the number one cosmetic dentistry procedure on the planet, but
that glass of merlot that you enjoy every night isn’t the only thing that is
turning your teeth a nasty color. That big bowl of bolognaise that you tucked
into last night could take its toll on your toothy grin. Your teeth will like
curry almost as much as you do. Your favorite curry and rice bowl will be
present long after you have enjoyed. Curry is yellow; your teeth will be too. Beets,
soy sauce, and soda can also stain your teeth. Beets are excellent
anti-oxidants, but they will stain your teeth.
Dried fruits are certainly much better for
you than that processed fruit bar you grabbed at the gas station, but because
they are sticky, and still have a high sugar content, dried figs, apricots,
mangos, or any other dried fruit will stick to your teeth. Once that starts to
happen, the bacteria will thrive feeding off the sugar. It’s okay to enjoy, but
brush after.
Those sports and energy drinks may do their
job when it comes to giving you a boost after a good workout, but your teeth
are paying the price. If it takes an hour for you to sip a can of soda, your
teeth are exposed to a layer of acid until you take your last sip, and beyond,
unless you rinse with water. Have your sodas, energy drinks, and sports drinks
but drink it down all at once or have it with your meal. Better yet, drink
water with fresh squeezed lemon or lime or add Grapefruit for a refreshing
twist.
