Out of all the parts of your body, one of the least of your concerns is your teeth. Most people don’t give that great importance to their teeth. However, believe it or not, your teeth is a crucial part of your body because they help with chewing and digestion. Furthermore, it is essential for smiling, speaking, and maintaining your overall appearance.
Taking care of your teeth is important so as to prevent tooth decay, bad breath, and gum disease. The food you eat is one of the main factors that can cause problems to your teeth. Though not flossing or brushing can also add to the cause, however, the food you eat is the primary factor.
Your teeth may be small. But, they are a lot more vital to your overall health than many of us realize. Moreover, your teeth are never too old to be repaired or replaced. Thus, you should not eat everything you get your hands on. Before eating, you must first assess the likely effect the food can do to your teeth. The following are examples of food that can damage your dental health.
A Squeeze of Citrus Can Erode Your Teeth
Too much acidic food like citrus can erode your enamel, making your teeth increasingly susceptible to decay. To those who are fond of placing a squeeze of lime or lemon on a simple glass of water to boost flavor, is not always the best option for your teeth.
Moreover, citric juices and fruits can also cause mouth sores. When you eat acidic foods such as oranges, limes, grapefruits, and lemons, make sure to drink plenty of water afterward.
Coffee Stains Your Teeth
Coffee is one of the favorite drinks of many. Even though it is a healthy beverage, caffeinated coffee can cause your mouth to dry. Most often, consuming too much coffee may also stain your teeth. You should drink plenty of water when drinking too much coffee.
Coffee contains ingredients called tannins that stick to your teeth. If these compounds stick to your teeth, it will leave a yellow hue behind. Aside from that, coffee helps the bacteria in your mouth to develop acids that can lead to tooth erosion. To avoid this, better brush your teeth, use a tongue scraper or avail an affordable dental plan.
You Don’t Chew Ice
There are other habits you do when you get bored such as chewing ice. It may not look apparent, however, chewing on hard substances can damage your enamel and make your teeth vulnerable to a dental emergency.
Many people think ice is good for your teeth because it is only made up of water; this is a misconception you must avoid. While ice crushers and blenders are suitable for crunching ice cubes, teeth are not.
Yummy, Sticky, Yet Deadly
Many people prefer to eat dried fruit as a healthy snack. Though it is nutritious, it can be alarming and damaging to your teeth. Since many dried fruits are sticky, it can cause damage to your teeth.
It can harm your teeth because it can stay longer on it than other types of food. If you can’t stop consuming it, then it would be good to drink water, brush your teeth, and floss carefully. Aside from that, you can make use of dental plans to help maintain your healthy teeth.
Takeaway
There are plenty of reasons why you need to take care of your teeth. It may not be apparent, but your teeth are equally important as your eyes, nose, and ears. Take note that your teeth and many parts of your body are connected. Not giving importance to it and not taking good care of it as well will cause you even more than that.
Author bio
Pooria Shahin is a dentist based in Brooklyn, New York. He earned a degree in dental surgery from Columbia University last 2009. Moreover, Dr. Shahin received an outstanding practitioner award for his contribution to cosmetic surgery.
