A tooth is precious, and you need to keep it protected from harmful bacteria that cause cavities and tooth decay. Apart from oral care and hygiene, you also need to keep control of your eating habits, which can damage your teeth. And there are a few of the worst food items that can damage your tooth enamel.
And the enamel is a very sensitive layer of your teeth; if it is affected, you can feel sensitivity and other dental problems. So, avoiding such foods that can damage the enamel is very important to keep your teeth healthy for many years. Here we will list the top foods that damage teeth enamel.
What is Tooth Enamel?
It is the outer cover of your teeth that is visible, but hard and protects your teeth from harmful chemicals. It is one of the hardest substances in our body, even stronger than bones, that works like a shield to protect the gentle inner layer of the teeth from physical, chemical or thermal damage.
Made of primarily calcium and phosphorus, it is the first line of defence, which absorbs the daily wear and tear arising due to the pressure of normal chewing, biting and grinding. It also prevents the sensitive tooth pulp and nerves from extremely hot or cold temperature food or beverage items.
What Causes Tooth Enamel Damage?
The acid released by the harmful bacteria after eating sugar and other food items in our mouth is one of the harmful chemicals that damage the enamel of our teeth. However, our mouth saliva keeps neutralising this acid, but when the acid reacts with the mineral enamel, it can cause tooth decay.
And there are various food items that contain high amounts of such minerals that attract bacteria to such minerals, releasing the acid that can damage the teeth enamel. Hence, you need to avoid such foods that are harmful to your teeth or can badly damage the enamel of your teeth.
Foods and Beverages Bad for Teeth Enamel:
1. Citrus Fruits
Most of the acidic or sour fruits and vegetables, like lemons, oranges, limes, and grapefruits, contain a high amount of citric acid, which erodes the enamel of the teeth. You cannot completely avoid these foods as they are enriched with vitamin C, which is necessary for our immune system.
So, to minimise the impact of citric acid, always rinse your mouth with fresh water to neutralise the impact of acid and keep your teeth protected from such acids.
2. Coffee & Tea
Coffee and tea, which contain caffeine and nicotine, are acidic in nature and stain your teeth. So, to avoid the impact of such diseases, you can use a straw or keep rinsing your mouth every time you sip a cup of coffee or tea.
3. Chocolates & Candies
Highly sweetened candies and chocolates contain a high amount of sugar that attracts bacteria, consuming sugar and releasing acids that damage your tooth enamel.
4. Soda & Soft Drinks
Carbonated drinks like soda and soft drinks contain a high amount of artificial sugar, and consuming such carbonated drinks will damage your tooth enamel.
5. Ice cream
Apart from sugar content in ice-cream, chewing such frozen hard substance can damage your teeth, which can weaken your teeth enamel, increasing the risk of tooth decay.
6. Vinegar
Vinegar is a highly acidic liquid used in preparing various types of food items, such as sprinkling on salad or making noodles. And this acid is harmful to your tooth enamel, so you need to avoid consuming such food items.
7. Pickles & Sauce
The pickles or sauce prepared in Indian cuisine contain a high amount of salt, spices, and lemon juice, which are very acidic and can easily erode your teeth enamel if consumed on a regular basis.
8. Betel Nuts
Betal nuts chewed with paan or paan masala or guthkha as an Indian mouth freshener after a meal not only increase the risk of oral submucous fibrosis but also stain your teeth and damage the enamel of your teeth.
9. Alcohol Drinks
Alcohol drinks like wine and other drinks contain erosive acid that can easily soften your enamel, making it more vulnerable to tooth decay. Hence, also consume plenty of water and keep brushing your teeth after consuming such drinks to minimise the impact of harmful acids on your teeth.
10. Eating Disorders
Last but not least, apart from consuming the food items mentioned above, you also need to improve your overall eating disorder. The habit of eating disorders also affects your digestive system, which triggers your stomach acid, which is also very harmful to your tooth enamel.
How to Prevent Tooth Enamel Erosion?
The best way to prevent your teeth enamel from erosion is to avoid consuming foods and beverages that are harmful to your teeth. Highly acidic foods, such as citrus fruits, vegetables, coffee, tea, soda, sports drinks and soft drinks are the worst foods for teeth enamel. However, if you can not avoid consuming these food items, you can minimise their intake and always rinse your mouth with fresh water to clean your mouth.
And keep brushing twice a day and maintain your oral hygiene to reduce the sugar levels in your mouth. The lower the sugar intake in your mouth, the lower the acid production by bacteria that causes tooth decay and erodes tooth enamel.
Summing-up
Teeth enamel is an important layer that prevents your teeth from harmful chemicals and temperature. When you consume such foods that cause cavities, then later on, it starts damaging the enamel of the teeth. Hence, consuming such foods in limited amounts or with precautions is necessary to prevent your teeth from being damaged.
However, if you face any dental problems or your tooth enamel is affected by such foods, you need to visit your nearest best dentist in Greater Noida. Here, as per your teeth condition, the dentist will recommend the right dental procedure, like root canal treatment, to prevent your teeth from permanent damage or help you to get a new tooth through dental implant services.
