from the publishers of: Verywell, Real Simple, EatingWell, Shape, Parents, Health and Allrecipes
When we snack on delicious foods like candy and popcorn, we don’t always realize what happens once they enter our bodies. However, problems occur when these foods begin negatively affecting our health, specifically, our teeth. “Food plays a major role in oral health, often more than most people realize,” says dentist Sandip Sachar, DDS. “While genetics can influence tooth enamel strength, salivary flow, and gum susceptibility to periodontitis, diet is a controllable factor that has a daily impact on cavity risk, gum disease, enamel wear, and oral microbiome balance.”
While we typically associate enamel-harming foods with sugary nutritional profiles, there are other sneaky, not-so-common snacks that do the same—if not more—damage as sugar. To help you identify them, we asked a dentist for five foods, besides sugar, that are ruining your teeth.
You may frequently pick up some dried mango from the aisles of your local grocery store, but too much dried fruit consumption can do more harm than good. “Dried fruit is often seen as a healthy snack; however, they are highly concentrated source of sugar and is extremely sticky,” Sachar says. “They cling to the teeth for prolonged periods of time [and] can feed cavities, causing bacteria, and prolong exposure time to acid—acid is the main source of tooth enamel erosion.” Eating these types of acidic foods can be less harmful when paired with healthy meals, stimulating saliva production and dislodging sugary particles in the teeth much more easily.
Saltine crackers and chips are an easy, go-to snack—but not without some harmful tendencies. “The starch contained in these breaks down into simple sugars and becomes pasty when chewed,” Sachar says. “This allows them to easily stick to and get lodged between the teeth. Many people do not associate them with cavities, but they can be just as harmful as candy.”
All fruits offer some sort of nutritional value, which means they shouldn’t be wiped clean from your diet. However, excessive consumption of citrus fruits can be slightly damaging to your dental health. “Lemons, oranges, grapefruits, and other citrus fruits are highly acidic and can erode tooth enamel over time,” Sachar says. “This is especially true when they are sucked on or consumed frequently without rinsing the mouth with water. They create acid exposure, which can become damaging to tooth enamel.” After eating citrus fruits, wait 30 minutes before brushing your teeth to remove surface-level sugars while protecting softened enamel.
Yogurt is a crowd-favorite when it comes to probiotics, but it’s important to pick the right one. “ While yogurts offer calcium, many flavored varieties of yogurts are loaded with added sugars that can outweigh the benefit for the teeth,” Sachar says. Take a quick peek at the nutritional label before buying flavored yogurt to ensure it’s not too heavy on the sugar.
Another seemingly healthy food that can sneakily cause damage? Granola bars. “These are often marketed as healthy foods and snacks; however, they often combine sticky textures with high sugar content, especially when they include honey and dried fruit,” Sachar says. Avoid pairing granola and energy bars with dried fruit, and focus on eating bars that don’t include an excessive amount of toppings.
Ultimately, moderation is key when it comes to consuming any of the above foods. “I advise my patients that they do not need to eliminate them entirely; however, they should be mindful of their consumption habits,” Sachar says. “Timing, frequency, and post-meal oral habits matter the most. When eaten with other foods, there is more saliva stimulation, which helps to clean the teeth of remaining sugars, food particles, and plaque.”