Five Surprising Foods that Damage Your Teeth

Of course, we’re all familiar with the fact that sugary foods can seriously damage your teeth. However, there are many other foods that can also harm your teeth; and many of them are quite surprising.

Here’s a list of five surprising foods that can cause tooth decay.

Five Foods that are Problematic for Your Teeth

1. Ice cubes. You’re probably wondering how frozen water can possibly be bad for your teeth. It’s actually nothing to do with the water itself, but to do with the hardness of the cube. Crunching down on ice cubes, and indeed, any other hard foods, can chip the enamel on the teeth, which leaves them vulnerable to decay. So next time you eat an ice cube… suck it, don’t crunch it!

2. Now obviously, coffee filled with sugar is going to be bad for your teeth. But did you know that the coffee itself is a problem? It’s one of the key causes of staining, and can leave your teeth looking rather unpleasant. The same applies for red wine and dark chocolate.

3. Fruit offers some great nutritional benefits, and we certainly wouldn’t recommend that you stop eating it. However, we would advise that you consume it in moderation, as fresh fruit can be problematic for the teeth. Fresh fruits (and juices) are acidic; and this acid literally eats through the enamel on the tooth, which in turn, leaves it open to decay.

4. There’s nothing wrong with a steak every so often, but after you’ve eaten it, make sure to not only brush your teeth, but also floss. Meat has a habit of getting stuck in between the teeth; and if it’s left there long enough, it will start to feed the bacteria, which in turn, will work hard to destroy your teeth.

5. It never ceases to surprise people to find out that potatoes aren’t great for your teeth. After all, they don’t taste sugary, so they should be absolutely fine… in theory! However, the starch in the humble potato is actually a form of sugar, which feeds the plaque and bacteria on your teeth. The result, if you don’t brush well after eating potatoes, will be tooth decay. This also applies to other starchy foods, such as pasta, rice and bread.

Worried that Decay Has Already Set In? Visit an Endodontic Specialist Today

If you’re already worried about your teeth and suspect that you may need root canal surgery, it’s advisable to act quickly, to stop the problem getting any worse. Simply arrange a visit with your local endodontic specialist.