10 worst and 6 best foods for your teeth

Your diet can impact your dental health to a great extent. Though there is no denying the perks of maintaining a good oral hygiene routine like brushing twice a day and flossing once a day, your teeth and gums may not stay in excellent health if you fail to add a variety of nutrient-rich foods. However, not all healthy foods are great for your teeth. Citrus fruits and dried fruit come in the healthy category but they could spell trouble for your teeth. Let's find out some best and worst foods for your teeth.
Sweets and candies are often considered the main culprits when it comes to dental health. With their high sugar content, they can easily stick to your teeth, providing a breeding ground for harmful oral bacteria. Over time, this can lead to bacterial infections, cavities, and even tooth decay.
They not only contribute to making us obese and susceptible to a range of chronic diseases, but potato chips, that we often mindlessly munch on are high in carbohydrates that feed on cavity-causing bacteria. Additionally, they may also get stuck in the gaps between teeth, which can cause decay and other dental problems.

Drinking soda could contribute significantly to the tooth decay as the high amounts of sugar in these beverages can interact with bacteria in your mouth to form acid. This acid can damage your teeth and cause decay. Carbonated sugary drinks can harm teeth more than non-carbonated sugary drinks being more acidic. It is better to pair soft drinks with food rather than having them standalone from dental health point of view.
Drinking alcohol can also lead to cavities can it can dry out your mouth, and reduce saliva production, which is essential for protecting teeth from decay. Additionally, sugary alcoholic drinks can contribute to plaque buildup and cavities.
Just because water is safe for your teeth doesn't mean you chew ice without any caution. Chewing on ice can crack or chip your teeth, leading to potential damage and sensitivity. It also wears down tooth enamel over time.

While nutritious and a powerhouse of many nutrients, dried fruits like raisins, dates, prunes, figs, apricots, and peaches are sticky and high in sugar, making it easy for them to cling to teeth and promote cavity formation if not cleaned properly.
Citrus fruits are full of Vitamin C, an important nutrient for your teeth, but they are also highly acidic, which can erode enamel, leading to tooth sensitivity and an increased risk of cavities.
The acidity in pickles can erode tooth enamel, making teeth more susceptible to decay and sensitivity. The salt content can also contribute to dry mouth.

Your love for cookies can be a bad news for your teeth. Cookies are high in sugar and can also stick to your teeth, leaving residue which can feed harmful bacteria, causing cavities and plaque buildup.
Both tea and coffee can stain teeth over time, leaving them discolored. Additionally, they can reduce saliva production, which protects against cavities and gum disease.
While calcium can help build stronger teeth and help repair damage to bone tissues, phosphorous aids in maintaining tooth enamel. Milk also stimulates saliva, which digests starches. The casein proteins in dairy form a coating over the teeth, protecting them from decay.

Both black and green tea contain fluoride that protects against tooth decay and also helps reduce gum inflammation. According to a study published in Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences, black tea reduces bacterial attachment to plaque at concentrations of 1 mg/ml while green tea at the concentrations of 1.5 mg/ml.
Fruits can help clean the teeth naturally and also aid in killing some bad oral bacteria. They also have a wealth of nutrients and antioxidants that can protect teeth from damage and cavity.
Drinking water with fluoride can help prevent cavities. Besides, water can clean the teeth and remove leftover food and residue. Drinking water helps in saliva formation, which is your mouth's first defense against tooth decay. Drinking enough water can also help prevent dry mouth.

Spinach is a storehouse of calcium, vitamin A, folic acid, and vitamin C that can keep teeth healthy.
According to the American Dental Health Association, chewing sugar-free gum can increase saliva production, which helps wash away food particles and neutralize acids produced by bacteria in your mouth. The increased saliva flow can help reduce plaque acid.