What Food Should You Avoid To Maintain Good Oral Health?

When it comes to teeth, sometimes the tastiest foods can be the biggest culprits in creating problems. Bacteria in your mouth love sugar, so when you eat sugary foods, they produce acid.

The acid then weakens your tooth enamel, dissolving minerals and making weak spots. Meanwhile, acidic foods and drinks don’t even need bacteria to weaken your enamel, they just attack it directly.

What Food Should You Avoid To Maintain Good Oral Health?

Over time, certain foods can make your teeth more vulnerable to decay, eventually leading to cavities. Here are some of the foods you should avoid to maintain your oral health:

• Sweets — Candies, pastries, soda, sweet tea, etc.
• High sugar content — Flavored yogurt, sports drinks, fruit juice, barbecue sauce, and dried fruits. Although these foods have a lot of nutrients, they also have a lot of sugar.
• Acidic foods — Citrus fruits, pickles, wine, coffee, kombucha, and even tomato-based sauces have high acidity levels.
• Processed foods — Processed foods contain a surprisingly high amount of sugar. Consider eating whole foods or less-processed snacks.
• Sticky foods — Sticky snacks like granola bars and dried fruit cling to teeth, prolonging sugar exposure. 

On the bright side, you don’t have to ditch your favorite foods completely. It’s more about how often and when you eat them.

Eating these foods as part of a meal rather than snacking on them helps because your saliva production increases, naturally neutralizing some acids. It also helps to eat them occasionally and not every day.

After eating sugary foods, you should wait at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth to let your enamel re-harden. Then, you can brush your teeth and rinse as normal.

How to Keep Your Teeth Healthy?

Good oral hygiene is your best defense against sugar and acid attacks. Here’s your daily battle plan:

• Brushing and flossing ⁠— Brushing twice daily for two minutes can help remove plaque, while flossing can remove food debris and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach.
• Use the right products — Various toothpaste and mouthwashes are designed to fight cavities or strengthen enamel. Your dentist can recommend the best choice for you.
• Fluoride — Fluoride strengthens the enamel and makes it more resistant to decay. You can find it in tap water, some seafood, and toothpaste.
• Rinse and repeat — If you can’t brush after a snack, at least rinse your mouth with water to wash away food particles and lessen the acid’s impact.

Best Foods For Maintaining Healthy Teeth and Gums

Having a healthy diet isn’t just good for your overall well-being, it’s also great for your teeth and gums. Specific nutrients are important in building strong teeth and keeping your gums healthy.

Here are some of the best foods for maintaining your oral health:

• Calcium — Calcium helps build strong teeth and bones. Milk, yogurt, cheese, and leafy greens like kale are good sources of calcium. 
• Proteins — Protein-rich foods like meat, eggs, nuts, and beans are good sources of phosphorus, which can help with tooth remineralization.
• Vitamin D — Vitamin D helps build and maintain strong teeth while aiding calcium absorption. You can get this from fatty fish, sunlight exposure, and fortified foods.

• Vitamin A — Vitamin A promotes healthy saliva flow, removes food leftovers, and keeps your gums healthy. Oranges, vegetables, egg yolks, and fish are great sources.
• Vitamin C — Vitamin C helps form collagen, the tissue that keeps your teeth in place. You can get this from citrus fruits, bell peppers, tomatoes, and leafy greens.
• Potassium — You can get potassium from bananas, potatoes, and avocados. It helps keep your blood from becoming too acidic.

A balanced diet rich in these nutrients can help lay the foundation for strong teeth and healthy gums. Make sure to visit your dentist regularly and maintain a good oral care routine for the best results. 

How Does Water and Saliva Help Protect Your Oral Health?

Water helps to neutralize the acids that bacteria produce, protecting your enamel and preventing cavities. Drinking and swishing water can also wash away food particles that bacteria can feed on.

Staying hydrated also keeps saliva flowing, which helps rebuild weakened enamel and reduces the risk of plaque buildup. Saliva also contains antimicrobial properties and enzymes that can help eliminate harmful bacteria. 

Here are some tips for boosting hydration and saliva flow:

• Drink 8 glasses of water a day
• Eat crunchy fruits and vegetables like apples, carrots, or celery
• Chew on sugar-free gum

Some medications and medical conditions can also cause dry mouth. Talk to your dentist if you’re worried about getting dry mouth from medications or health conditions.