Healthy Foods That Make Your Teeth Rot

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Candy is bad for your teeth. Well, that's a no-brainer! Even 3-year-olds know that. But my patients are always caught off guard when I tell them that certain healthy foods are just as unkind to your chompers and can cause your teeth to rot. So grab a toothbrush and hear me out.

Fruit Juice

The Trouble:

OJ, grapefruit, pineapple and other fruit juices are packed with sugar. Even though it's the natural kind that's better for the rest of your body, the decay-causing bacteria in your mouth like it just as much as any other type of sugar. They gobble it up and multiply in droves. Plus, fruit juices contain a lot of acid, and acid from any kind of food or drink -- even nutritious ones -- erodes tooth enamel.

The Fix:

Chances are you drink these juices mostly in the morning. Brush and floss after breakfast, rather than before, and problem solved. If you happen to have a glass later in the day and don't have your toothbrush handy, swish water around in your mouth to neutralize the acid.

Dried Fruit

The Trouble:

Sure, raisins, currants, and other dried fruit supply your body with cancer-fighting antioxidants. But the bacteria in your mouth see a sugar feast. One small 1 1/2-ounce box of raisins contains 25 grams of sugar -- as much as a slice of pie topped with ice cream! Making matters worse, dried fruit is super-sticky, just like gummy bears and jelly beans, so it often gets caught in between your teeth.

The Fix:

You don't need to give up dried fruit since it's healthy for the rest of you. But after your eat it, brush and floss your teeth.

Chips and Pretzels

The Trouble:

The bacteria in your mouth that love sugar also adore starches like potatoes, pretzels, white bread and white rice. These foods turn into a gluey paste that clings to your teeth. Bacteria prefer these kinds of starches, because they're broken down much faster than whole grains, like whole-wheat bread and brown rice.

The Fix:

Switch to whole grains -- they're better for your body as well as your mouth. Try whole-grain crackers with cheese, or whole-grain pretzels with peanut butter. You can even start by pairing one slice of white bread and one slice of whole wheat on a sandwich to get used to the taste. In the meantime, brush your teeth after a starchy meal or snack.

Photo Credit: @iStockphoto.com/Gordo25

 

 

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