In the world of foods, a lot of weirdos apply. It turned out that many foods that benefit the body are harmful to the teeth. I also know that during this holiday period, so many of us will visit a number of places and are bound to take lots of stuffs. Here’s a list of some foods that can be harmful to your teeth…
Milk
Nutritionists note that milk is a healthy source of calcium. Other top sources of this mineral are cheese, turnip greens, oranges, and broccoli; but milk not only has the most calcium, it’s also a great source of vitamin D, riboflavin, carotene, and retinol, among others.
However, despite these numerous pluses, milk can wreak havoc on your teeth — that is if you take much milk while you are careless with oral hygiene! A dentist, Dr. Deola Olonilua, says the lactose (a form of sugar) in milk rots the teeth as much as frizzy drinks do.
She says, “Milk has a sugar in it called lactose. The lactose in milk can be especially dangerous for children if they have it just before bedtime. This is because the milk will still be on their teeth as they sleep, and the sugars are converted to acids by oral bacteria. The acids can coat the teeth and consequently eat away at the tooth enamel. That is one of the ways people develop cavities.”
She advises that people should not hit the bed immediately after taking milk. Rather, she counsels, “You should rinse your mouth thoroughly after taking milk, or better still, brush your teeth as the last thing before bed.
Lemon
Though lemon drinks have detoxifying and other benefits, it can affect your teeth in many ways than one. Lemon contains citric acid, which, dentists say, causes enamel erosion and other dental problems.
The online portal, 1800dentist.com, states, “Drinking lemon juice can put you at risk for tooth erosion, a condition where the thin, protective layer of enamel slowly wears away from your teeth. Lemon juice contains acid, which irritates gums and softens tooth enamel.”
Experts warn that frequent consumption of products that contain acid will eventually destroy the enamel and expose underlying dentin, leaving your teeth vulnerable to sensitivity and tooth decay.
“Enamel erosion is one of the most common causes of cavities and tooth loss. This is because when you feast on these fruits for a long period, it means you are constantly bathing your teeth in acid and sugar; this will not allow your saliva to wash it away and neutralise the acids,” Olonilua says.
Other fruits in this category include orange, apple and grapefruit juice. The dentist says since these fruits also contain natural sugars, the best bet is to thoroughly rinse the mouth after taking them.
Dried fruits
In these days of eating on-the-go, dried fruits come in handy, as you can munch them at any time of the day. Plus, they are available all the year round, and you can stock up on them without any fear that they would rot.
However, experts say though dried fruits have admirably long shelf life, their detrimental effects on the teeth are enormous.
Olonilua says, “Dried fruits can be harmful to the teeth because of their concentrated sugar content and stickiness. When you eat dried fruits, parts of them can easily adhere to the teeth, while the sugar in them encourages bacteria to thrive in the mouth. This is very likely to erode tooth enamel.”
Scientists contend that since dried fruits are packed with non-soluble cellulose fibre, they can bind and trap sugars on and around the tooth, making it worse than sweets. They advise that after taking dried fruit, brush immediately; and if you have no access to brush, rinse your mouth thoroughly while running your tongue all over your teeth.
Red, white wine
When taken in moderation, wine is said to benefit the heart immensely. But then, wines do wreck havoc on teeth also.
Take the red wine, for instance, which, experts say, is a tasty mix of natural dyes, acids, and tannin. These three ingredients leave lasting effects on teeth, as they can contribute to teeth stain.
Researchers say saliva in our mouth helps to wash away food particles and protect against acidic foods. However, wine contains alcohol, and alcohol suppresses the production of saliva. When this happens frequently, it is harmful for teeth and it may lead to gum disease. In extreme cases, it may lead to oral cancer, experts warn.
A group of New York University researchers warn that if taken in excess, the acidic composition of wines can dissolve the enamel, make teeth porous and easily stained.
Another study published in the journal Nutrition Research states that different types of wine may have a more negative impact on your teeth than others.
The study shows that white wine has an acid content that tends to increase the risk of dark dental stains if you also drink tea or similar beverages.
The researchers tested the effects of multiple red and white wines on teeth, and found that wine erodes the enamel of teeth, while white wine has a worse impact than red wine.
“Wine is highly acidic, and the acid leads to lower levels of minerals such as calcium and dental erosion. The white grape variety (riesling) was found to be the most acidic of the wines tested,” the study says.
Well, unlike the advice with other foods, experts say it is not recommended to brush immediately after drinking wine. “The softened teeth can be eroded by vigorous hygiene, so you should rinse — and wait a bit — before scrubbing your teeth,” the experts advise.
Olonilua says for this reason, it’s always a good idea to drink some water after drinking wine in order to rinse the acids from your mouth.
