7 Foods and Drinks That Can Affect Your Oral Health

If you want to have healthy teeth and gums, you should pay extra attention to the foods and drinks you consume daily. Your diet can either improve or worsen the condition of your oral cavity.

Additionally, it is extremely important to maintain proper oral hygiene and visit a dentist on a regular basis. In this article, we have gathered seven foods and drinks that can affect your oral health.

1. Sweets

Candies, cookies, and many other types of sweets are full of sugar. Even though sugar can't affect your oral cavity on its own, it can promote the overgrowth of bacteria and lead to the development of many oral issues. So if you want to improve your oral health, it is essential to limit the consumption of sweets or at least rinse your mouth after eating them.

2. Coffee

If you have a coffee addiction and drink gallons of coffee per day, it can lead to the development of serious complications. This is because coffee is an acidic drink and acids can soften and remove your tooth enamel. Additionally, pigments in coffee can stain your tooth enamel and make your teeth look dark. If you can't avoid coffee completely, you can try to add milk to your coffee and limit its consumption to one or two cups a day.

3. Citrus fruit

Indeed, citrus fruits are full of vitamins that are extremely important for your oral and overall health. But you should understand that increased and regular consumption of citrus fruits can wear out your tooth enamel due to their acidity. You should also remember that it is better to avoid tooth brushing for at least 30 minutes after eating citrus fruits, since you can remove softened enamel.

4. Sports and energy drinks

Some people think that sports drinks are healthy and that they can drink them without any negative consequences for their health. But the reality is that both sports and energy drinks contain a lot of sugar. Additionally, energy drinks can contain acids and colorings that can cause tooth discoloration. That's why it is better to choose sports drinks that don't contain sugar and avoid energy drinks completely.

5. Crackers

Since crackers don't contain sugar, many people think that they can't harm your oral health. But the reality is that crackers are refined carbohydrates that promote body inflammation. This means that crackers can promote the development of gum disease. Additionally, crackers can get stuck between your teeth for a long time, promoting the overgrowth of bacteria.

6. Dried fruits

There is a common misconception that dried fruits are a healthy snack. However, dried fruits are extremely sticky and contain lots of sugar. When they attach to your teeth, they feed the bacteria in your mouth and cause them to multiply actively. That's why you need to rinse your mouth thoroughly after eating dried fruits or replace them with fresh alternatives.

7. Alcohol

Drinking alcohol can significantly affect your general health, including the condition of your oral cavity. This is because alcohol dries out your mouth and leads to bacteria overgrowth. When your mouth is dry, the foods are stick to your teeth. To keep your mouth hydrated while drinking alcohol you need to drink plenty of water.

The bottom line

To keep your teeth and gums healthy, you need to maintain a healthy diet. You need to eat more fresh vegetables, fruits, not leafy greens, dairy products, fatty fish, and eggs. It is also important to drink a lot of water to promote saliva production.