Regarding oral health, people often divide food into two categories. The first includes processed items like candy, chocolate, cookies, and ice cream — sweets that are infamously bad for teeth. The second is for the non-sweets that seem more “natural” and less harmful to your mouth. While you may assume that the second category’s products don’t cause dental issues, that’s not the case. To learn more, here’s a summary of three surprising cavity-causing foods from your dentist in Hamden. Read it over to choose mouth-healthier meals in the future!
Cough Syrup
As it turns out, cough syrup has large amounts of sugar — enough that diabetics must be careful not to spike their blood with it. As you probably already know, this ingredient erodes tooth enamel and causes cavities when eaten in excess.
Adding insult to injury, there’s no proof that over-the-counter cough medicines even treat coughs.
Saltine Crackers
You may not think saltine crackers are great for your teeth, but you probably don’t see them as worse than candy. However, they are.
You see, bacteria don’t just turn sugar into tooth-damaging acid. They do the same to the processed starches in saltines! Said starches stimulate these micro-organisms to eat away at your tooth enamel.
Even worse, these crackers turn into a fine powder when chewed. As a result, they’re difficult to brush off and can stay on tooth surfaces for hours at a time.
Raisins
At first, you might think raisins are a pretty healthy fruit. After all, they’re not processed and can be found in untainted nature. Many exercise enthusiasts will even add them to their trail mix.
The truth, though, is the opposite — at least for your mouth. A box of raisins can actually go toe-to-toe with candy and soda in terms of sugar content. The fruit also gets stuck to your teeth when chewed, thus letting it linger and do even more damage.
It isn’t wise to base your diet of mouth-healthy foods on stereotypes. As you can see with the products above, you’d still be at risk of eating things that hurt your smile. Talk to your dentist about how to make better dietary choices for your teeth and gums.
About the Practice
D’Andrea and Pantera, DMD PC is based in Hamden, CT. Headed by excellent dentists, the practice provides comprehensive family dentistry under one roof. Its services include preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dental treatments and emergency tooth care. This work combines comfort and quality, using the latest technology and techniques to achieve superb smiles. For more information or to book an appointment, reach them at their website or by phone at (203)-288-0951.
