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 white teeth

Who doesn’t want white teeth? At the very least, we all want to have a nice smile, and that means not having stained teeth. Some foods are particularly hazardous to your white teeth and should be either avoided, or you should at least brush thoroughly after consuming. Some will just stain our teeth, but others should be avoided to keep your teeth healthy.

Whether on this list or not, foods that are sticky and sugary are among the worst culprits for endangering dental health. Acidic foods are also bad because they can damage the enamel on your teeth. Some of these foods are healthy to eat, so at least brush well afterwards and perhaps minimize them in your diet.

  • Dried Fruits: This is one that really loves to stick to your teeth. Brush afterwards or consider changing to fresh fruit, which doesn’t stick as easily.
  • Soda: Soda and other sugary drinks, even sports drinks, are horrible for your teeth, especially when sipped throughout the day instead of drinking a glass with a meal and then brushing afterwards. They are especially bad for children.
  • Candy: This is a pretty obvious no-no, but consider that hard candy can sit in your mouth for quite a while, and you’ll understand why it is the worst of the worst.
  • Alcohol: Red wine is very staining to teeth and will definitely be a danger to white teeth, but all alcohol causes your saliva production to decrease, which leads to dental problems and potentially gum disease.
  • Acidic Foods: As already mentioned, acidic foods like tomatoes and citrus fruits can promote tooth decay. Simply flush with water afterwards to help reduce the dangers.
  • Coffee: Coffee stains white teeth, and it also makes your teeth stickier, causing other foods to be trapped. Brush after having a cup to reduce the risks.

When all else fails, you can seek help in getting white teeth again by calling your Lakeland, FL dentist, G. R. Sheumaker Jr. DDS. We’re here to help with teeth whitening treatments and advice.