12th April 2017
5 Things You Didn’t Know Were Bad for Your Teeth
We all know the importance of good oral hygiene in looking after our teeth. The biggest culprits are well known – we all had it drilled into us from a young age that too many fizzy drinks or sweets could cause problems like tooth decay.
However, there are a number of everyday things that you may not realise can also be damaging to your dental health. Here are 5 things that are really bad for your teeth…
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White Wine
The red stuff is renowned for staining teeth and notorious for causing that ‘red wine mouth’ look. Many people opt for white wine instead of red, assuming it’s the safer option to avoid discolouring their teeth, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.
White wine actually contains high levels of acidity, which eats away at tooth enamel. This leads to your teeth becoming much more vulnerable to decay and susceptible to staining.
Whilst this is not a guaranteed solution – certainly not if you suffer from lactose intolerance – you can combat some of the damage by simply doing what many of us already do when we drink wine, anyway. Eating some cheese!
This is because the good properties found in cheese, such as calcium, protein, and phosphorus, can counteract the acidity and help to protect your teeth against the damaging effects of white wine.
Dried Fruit
Although it’s widely seen as a nutritious snack and nutrient-dense food, dried fruit is a hidden offender. This is because dried fruit contains non-cellulose fibre, which causes sugar to collect on the teeth. If eaten over a long period of time, this can gradually erode the teeth, which can then result in cavities.
Though dried fruit can be more convenient, fresh fruit is much better for our teeth and our overall health. Dried fruit contains a lot more sugar due to the drying and preserving process, which usually amounts to much more calories gram-for-gram when compared to the fresh versions, too.
If you’re a sucker for the dried varieties, look for products made with no added sugar, and try to eat them in moderation. Make sure you brush and floss your teeth well after eating them to get rid of any build-ups!
Cough/Sore Throat Medicine
A spoonful of sugar may help the medicine go down, but what does it do to our teeth? We always think of cough medicine as being good for our health, so not many people would think to brush their teeth after taking it – but this could be a huge mistake.
Cough syrup and sore throat lozenges tend to contain enamel-destroying levels of sugar, which can slowly cause damage to your teeth. Taking cough syrup before bed is particularly problematic, as it will be left to attack your teeth through the night.
If you aren’t able to immediately brush your teeth after taking cough medicine or sucking on a sore throat lozenge, consider the sugar-free options now widely available.
Chewing some sugar-free gum can also help, as it encourages the increased production of saliva – the mouth’s natural defence against acid.
Swimming Pools
Swimming in a pool seems pretty harmless for your teeth, right? Think again – damage to teeth caused by chemically treated pools happens more than you would think.
This is due to the incorrect pH level of the pool water. When it’s not right (either too high or too low) it can be destructive against our enamel. The correct pH of a pool is between 7.2 to 7.8, but this information can be hard to get hold of.
If you can’t resist spending time in swimming pools, you could consider buying your own pH testing kit to ensure your teeth won’t be at risk before you take a dip.
Alternatively, you might want to look into water-tight mouth guards, which will offer maximum protection for your teeth, whatever the pH level may be.
Barbecue Sauce
Another surprisingly damaging commonplace culprit is our favourite summertime staple, barbeque sauce. Enjoyed at every summer BBQ and all year round, its flavour and richness is dense enough to permeate multiple types of meat and fish, which is why it’s not only great for dipping, but also marinading.
Now imagine the same scenario happening in your mouth – much like it clings to meat and fish, its thick and sticky consistency ensures that BBQ sauce spreads its high sugar content and acidic vinegar all over the surfaces of your teeth.
All that sugar is food for enamel-eroding bacteria, while the acid helps it to eat away at your tooth enamel. Not only can barbecue sauce consumption lead to potential tooth decay, but its strong pigments can also stain your teeth yellow.
How to Keep Your Teeth Healthy and White
As with anything that can damage your tooth enamel, brushing your teeth (and flossing, if possible) straight after consuming or exposing your teeth to any of these things can help to minimise any damage to your teeth and protect them against erosion and stains.
If you’re after a more unusual way to try protecting your teeth, some people swear by applying a thin layer of petroleum jelly (yes, Vaseline) to their teeth. This is believed to help protect them against potentially damaging foods or beverages, particularly if you’ve just had your teeth whitened!
Of course, we would also recommend visiting your dentist at least once or twice a year for a routine check-up, and seeing a dental hygienist for a scale and polish if you want your teeth to be as clean as possible.
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Dentists can check your teeth to make sure there are no cavities developing, while hygienists can perform professional teeth cleaning treatments to remove any built-up plaque and tartar – helping you to maintain a healthy and bright smile.
If you’re experiencing tooth discolouration from your diet or bad habits like smoking, you may also be interested in professional teeth whitening by a cosmetic dentist.
Here at Dental Solutions, we provide both general and cosmetic dentistry. Whether you would like to visit our practice for a routine examination, a hygienist treatment, or a cosmetic consultation, you can click the button below to get started!
