Close-up photograph of patient's bright white teeth, caused by healthy enamel and regular cleanings, as signified by dental instruments flanking her mouth.

The surface of our teeth is made up entirely of enamel, which provides critical protection from everyday wear and tear. It's vital that you keep your tooth enamel healthy because the most common cause of tooth loss in adults comes from erosion caused by acid or sugary foods we eat. Healthy enamel is crucial to protect because as we grow older our natural replacement cycle slows down. When there isn't enough brown dentine left beneath the white cementum – also known as "tooth-colored pulp" – decay can build between gaps.

What you eat and drink can negatively impact your teeth more than not brushing and flossing each day. That's because certain foods like sugary drinks can trigger chemical reactions in our bodies that lead to enamel erosion. Other factors are also at play here, including a diet with acidic foods. Therefore, we recommend incorporating these non-corrosive eating and drinking nutrition habits so you can maintain strong dental health. Here are a few of the worst culprits of enamel decay that you should try to avoid.

Candy

Sweets are a massive cause of enamel decay because the sugar helps create an environment that bacteria thrive on. But it's not just the sweet candies that can cause damage to your teeth. Treats like Sour Patch Kids and Lemonheads are very acidic. As mentioned previously, acidic foods like candy wear away tooth enamel over time - especially if you eat them often. And if candy is sour to your taste buds, then there's an additional cause to worry about its effects on eroding at your pearly whites even more quickly than you realize.

Soda

The worst types of soda for tooth enamel are clear sodas like 7UP and Sprite, which also contain high amounts of citric or ascorbic acids. As we continue, you will likely notice a pattern: acids wear away at the enamel.

Pickles

Have you heard the bad news about pickles? They're not really considered a healthy food, and their brine is highly acidic. If you are a regular consumer of pickles in large amounts, then be on the lookout for signs of tooth decay.

Fruit Juices

Fruits can be a great way to add vitamins and minerals to your diet, but they may also damage tooth enamel. The good news is that we've seen evidence that low-acid fruits like apples or pears might help protect against dental erosion when eaten together with high-acid foods and drinks like citrus fruit juices.

Raisins

While they might seem like a delicious treat, raisins are not the best choice if you want your teeth to stay healthy. They're high in sugar and very sticky - not exactly something that will help with oral hygiene. If you do choose to snack on a few though, make sure to thoroughly brush and floss afterwards.

Pasta Sauce

One of the key elements of Italian food is pasta sauce, but we recommend going for the creamy alfredo or pesto variety instead of marinara. Tomatoes are high in acidity and can erode enamel over time.

Other Beverages

Coffee, tea, and hot chocolate are three of the other most common beverages that can harm your teeth. Coffee has been shown to reduce tooth enamel's ability to protect against decay by more than 30% while drinking just one cup per day. Tea has a similar impact on our enamel as well as hot chocolate, both of which contain acid. If you love your morning caffeine fix but want to do less damage to your teeth, try switching to drinking them part-time instead of full-time. Sometimes less really is MORE when it comes down to maintaining strong dental hygiene habits.

Conclusion

We all love to indulge in guilty pleasures like candy and soda, but no one wants these things to rot away your beautiful smile. Here are a few additional ways to help prevent further problems:

  • Drink through a compostable straw so that sugary and acidic beverages bypass your teeth
  • Use an acid-neutralizing glass after meals or snacks, when possible, to reduce erosion potency
  • Consider chewing sugar-free, low-acidic gum to spur your mouth's cleansing saliva production

Performing tricks like this help ensure excess sugar doesn't make its way into the entire mouth immediately and as a result, less harm is done. Remember that with some moderation, it's possible to maintain your teeth and keep them healthy for a lifetime. For additional guidance on how to keep your tooth enamel bright, white, and healthy, contact Kanehl Dental today.