The worst foods and drinks for your teeth.

SHOCKING: The ABSOLUTE Worst Thing You Can Do to Your Teeth

Did you know there’s a substance in your body that’s as hard – or HARDER – than STEEL?

It’s not your bones (although they’re probably pretty darn sturdy).

And nope, it’s not your skull either – no matter how hard-headed you may be.

I’m talking about the enamel in your TEETH… the hardest substance in your body.

Made up of densely-packed minerals, enamel creates a hard coating on your teeth, insulating the soft inner layer and protecting your precious choppers from harm.

But you have to do YOUR part to help keep your teeth healthy. And that includes steering clear of foods and beverages that can damage them.

Let’s start with one of the worst of the worst…

The enemy of enamel

SUGAR.

It’s no secret that sugar can put you on the fast track to a LONG list of life-wrecking health conditions.

To boot, too much sugar is practically like a wrecking ball for your teeth.

See, when you eat or drink anything with sugar, it’s a field day for the “bad” bacteria that live in your mouth. They FEAST on that sugar, converting it to acids that pull minerals from tooth enamel – a process called demineralization – and damage tooth surfaces.

Next thing you know, you’re squirming in the dentists’ chair as he drills – if you’re lucky. If not, he’ll start tossing around phrases like “root canal.”

See, tooth damage can lead to tooth decay and gum disease… and eventually, tooth loss, disease and poor health.

Some of the worst culprits are sugar-laden candy, pastries, and other sweetened snacks and desserts. And watch out for gooey, sticky foods that wedge on and between your teeth, like caramels, gummy bears, and dried fruits.

Ditto for sugar-sweetened sodas, energy drinks, sports drinks, and fruit juices.

Ditching the sugar… but not the danger

If you think you’re safe with those sugar-free or “diet” versions – think again. They too can eat away at your pearly whites.

Nope, it’s not the sugar substitutes, like aspartame or sugar alcohols, that wreak all the havoc.

Artificial sweeteners aren’t digested by bacteria like sugar, so they don’t cause tooth decay (but their risks to the REST of your body are a whole other story).

Instead, it’s the nasty chemicals in sugar-free soft drinks you need to worry about. The diet versions have low pH levels, making them acidic. These acids can demineralize tooth enamel, causing your teeth to wear away.

As bad as all of these foods and drinks are for teeth… I can’t emphasize enough that the ROCK-BOTTOM worst is SODA. Both regular AND diet sodas can start breaking down tooth enamel just 20 minutes after your first sip!

There are dozens of videos showing how destructive soda can be. In one, they left human teeth in a glass of soda for five days. The results after they fished them out? Rotting and disintegrated, stained dark brown.

That’s because most sodas – with AND without sugar – are LOADED with chemicals. One study even found that a common soda coloring agent was linked to cancer!

So what can you do to protect YOUR teeth?

First, AVOID soda – along with sugary foods and ANY type of soft drinks. Instead, reach for a glass of water, or some hot or iced tea – MUCH healthier options.

And if you haven’t been to the dentist lately, stop putting it off.

At home, practice good oral hygiene by brushing after meals and daily flossing. Finish with a xylitol rinse (not fluoride) to flush everything away. Another good rinse option is cranberry extract. Avoid eating or drinking for an hour after rinsing.

Source:

“The Worst Foods and Drinks for Your Teeth”

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/18/well/eat/teeth-decay-food-drinks.html