Many factors cause dental cavities. Some of these factors are poor oral hygiene, starchy and sugary foods, and bacteria. While many people are aware that soda, sweets, and other sugary snacks are bad for their oral health, certain unsuspecting foods can also cause cavities. Read on to learn more about these cavity-causing foods.

Dried Fruits

Dried fruits cause cavities due to their sticky nature and high sugar content. Eating dried fruits allows oral bacteria to grow because of their sugar. It can produce acid that destroys the tooth's enamel and causes cavities. The sticky texture of dried fruits allows them to stick to teeth and remain in contact with the tooth enamel for prolonged periods, increasing tooth decay risks.

Dried fruits have a high nutrient and fiber content, which means they can be nourishing. You can consume dried fruits in moderation and rinse your mouth with water afterward. It helps to remove any residues of sugars and sticky foods. You should also wait at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth after eating dried fruits. This is because their high acid and sugar content could further damage your enamel if you clean your teeth immediately after eating.

If you are fond of eating dried fruits, it is advisable to opt for unsweetened ones. Most of the commercially available dried fruits contain added sugars. You can pair dried fruits with seeds or nuts to balance the sugar content and make your meal more nutritious by adding healthy fats and protein.

Sticky Foods

Many kinds of bacteria live freely in the mouth. Under normal circumstances, these bacteria pose no threat. However, the bacteria can thrive when sugary beverages or bits of food become stuck between the teeth or adhere to them. They also release highly acidic wastes, which build up on the surfaces of teeth. These damage the enamel, causing cavities and tooth decay.

Sticky foods are particularly harmful because they cling to teeth and can be difficult to remove. Flossing and brushing your teeth after consuming sticky foods can lower your risk of developing cavities. Your dentist will advise you on what foods to avoid to maintain good dental health.

Here are some foods to avoid:

  • Taffy.
  • Caramels.
  • Gummy candies.
  • Dried Fruits.

Certain sweets can also raise blood sugar levels, providing food for germs. Since sugar fosters the growth of bacteria, it produces more waste, which eventually turns into tartar and plaque, which erodes your dental enamel.

Although advancements in dentistry make it easier to replace or restore decaying teeth, it is recommended to prevent decay from occurring in the first place. To keep your teeth healthy and strong, you should practice proper oral hygiene, see your dentist regularly, and avoid sugary and sticky foods.

Sugary Foods

Consuming high-sugar foods can harm your oral cavity and your general health. Your dentist has likely shared sugar's adverse effects on your gums and teeth. The oral cavity includes both beneficial and harmful bacteria.

When sugar comes into contact with dangerous bacteria, the sugar breaks down and produces acid that erodes the tooth's enamel. Each time you take high-sugar foods, the bacteria produce more acid.

The saliva acts as a solid shield against cavities. It washes away sugar from the mouth into the stomach, lowers the effect of acid on teeth, reverses the initial stages of dental cavities by mending the tooth's mineral, and fights dangerous bacteria. However, when you overeat food with a high sugar content, the acid becomes too much for the saliva to handle. Tooth enamel can lose mineral content when acid comes into contact with it.

Sugar Promotes Plaque Formation

There are two types of dangerous bacteria found in the oral cavity:

  • Streptococcus mutans.
  • Streptococcus sobrinus.

These bacteria feed on sugar, resulting in plaque buildup. If plaque stays on the teeth too long, it becomes acidic and erodes the enamel. Sugary foods not only produce enamel-eroding acidic substances, but they also raise the risk of gingivitis or gum disease. Gum disease causes the gums to recede from the teeth. Severe gingivitis can result in tooth loss.

Many foods have sugars, some of which you might not even guess. Natural foods such as honey, vegetables, and fruits, as well as processed foods like brownies and cakes, may contain dangerous solid sugar.

Refined white sugar can also be harmful to teeth. This is because it leaves a thin coat on the teeth that saliva cannot remove. You can remove the coating by flossing, brushing your teeth regularly, and having a professional dental cleaning. You can limit sugar intake and avoid consuming sugary snacks to maintain oral hygiene.

Acidic Foods

Fruits are delicious and juicy and can be a rich source of vitamin C, which is why most people like eating them. However, because fruits and fruity beverages are highly acidic, consuming them daily could lead to cavities if necessary aftercare is not done.

Acidic fruits and meals can damage tooth enamel, which leads to sensitive teeth and dental erosion. You can still benefit from eating foods high in nutrients if you know how acid affects your teeth.

A pH scale can measure the alkaline or acidic level of substances. Normally, the scale runs from 0 to 14. The pH value of acidic compounds ranges below 7. On the other hand, alkaline compounds have a pH greater than 7. Your saliva should have a pH between 6.5 and 7.5 when you are not eating or drinking anything. This pH range is suitable for reducing acidic erosion and cavities.

Acidic Beverages and Foods To Watch Out For

High-acid foods can cause sensitivity, decay, and discoloration. Because of this, you should only consume them in limited amounts.

To keep your teeth healthy and prevent enamel erosion, you should reduce your intake of the following acidic foods:

  • Coffee.
  • Carbonated drinks.
  • Sports beverages.
  • Alcohol.
  • Citrus fruits and their juices.
  • Tonic water.
  • Wine.
  • Pickles Vinegar.

It is recommended to avoid such foods. However, some are necessary for our overall health, and we cannot afford to eliminate them from our diet. As a result, you can consume them sparingly or combine them with meals that have a lower pH, like:

  • Fish.
  • Cheese.
  • Nuts.
  • Oatmeal.
  • Bananas.
  • Eggs.
  • Whole grains.

Brushing your teeth shortly after meals is beneficial. Cleaning your teeth after consuming acidic foods can accelerate tooth degradation. This happens because the acid in the food weakens the enamel of your teeth. In such cases, you should drink plenty of water to stimulate saliva production and neutralize the acids.

You can also use the following tips to protect your teeth against cavities without giving up your favorite foods:

  1. Pair acidic meals with water. Drinking water helps rinse any remaining acids in the mouth.
  2. Consume acidic foods during full meals. Consuming acidic meals as part of your diet helps to neutralize the oral acid and reduces its contact with the teeth.
  3. Use straws. When drinking acidic beverages, use a straw to decrease the amount of food contact with the teeth. It could also be preferable not to let the beverage stay in the mouth for too long.
  4. Maintain good oral hygiene. Daily flossing and brushing are excellent techniques to maintain good dental hygiene. It is also preferable that you visit the dentist regularly. It helps the dentist identify and deal with the early signs of tooth erosion before it causes cavities.

Ice Cubes

Although water is good for dental health, ice cubes can be harmful. Grinding into hard objects like ice increases your risk of chipping or fracturing a tooth. A chipped or fractured tooth allows bacteria and food particles to penetrate the gaps between the teeth, causing deterioration.

In addition, you run the risk of losing or damaging a dental restoration, such as a filling. Most individuals prefer drinking water with ice in it. You should be cautious not to bite down or chew the ice cube.

Hard Foods

Aside from ice, you can avoid consuming hard things, including toffees and candies. You should also be cautious when consuming soft foods like cherries or olives that contain pits. The food processor might miss some even if you purchase a pitted fruit.

Caffeine-Rich Foods

Excessive consumption of beverages, such as tea and coffee, can jeopardize oral health. These drinks include added sugars, which increase the likelihood of developing dental cavities. They also cause drying in the mouth. This causes a reduction in saliva production, which results in xerostomia.

This condition causes a reduction in the flow of saliva. Saliva helps maintain the mouth's normal pH by neutralizing acidity levels produced by sugary or acidic foods, reducing demineralization. Teeth discoloration can also occur due to excessive coffee or tea consumption. Dentists recommend drinking enough water after tea or coffee to neutralize their harmful effects.

Starchy Foods

Taking sugary foods, like candy, is bad for your teeth. However, most individuals don't know that foods high in starch are just as detrimental to teeth. In many cases, candy will make you more aware of how much sugar you consume than snacking on potato crisps. You might not give it much thought because the sugar levels in starchy food are not easily determined.

Carbohydrates like potato crisps, white bread, and spaghetti are converted to sugar immediately after they enter the body. Starch digestion starts in the mouth, which contributes to the presence of residual sugars. The sugar in the carbohydrates provides an ideal setting for bacteria to grow. Bacteria from remaining food particles produce acid, which eats away the enamel, resulting in cavities.

When you ingest starchy meals, the development of dental cavities doesn't start immediately. However, not practicing proper dental hygiene allows the starch to stay in the mouth longer and raises the risk of developing dental cavities. Drinking water with carbs is a good way to keep your teeth healthy. This helps to wash out the starches and acids found in the foods.

Carbonated Drinks

Carbonated beverages, like sparkling water and soda, can lead to cavities even if they contain low acid and sugar content. Carbon dioxide is the source of carbonation. After a reaction in the mouth, carbon dioxide is transformed into carbonic acid, an acidic substance. This acid weakens and destroys the tooth's enamel.

Sparkling water is often considered a healthier alternative to sodas and fruit juices because it has lower sugar and calorie content. However, it is still harmful to your teeth due to its acidity. Many people like to add slices of citrus fruits such as oranges, limes, and lemons to their sparkling water, but this actually raises the acid level, making it even more detrimental to dental health.

Sugary solid meals do not damage the teeth as much as sugary liquids such as soda. Aside from being high in sugar, most beverages include acids, which are unhealthy for teeth. Acid is produced when the sugars in a beverage mix with bacteria in the mouth. The acid demineralizes, attacks, and weakens teeth, much like the acid found in soft beverages.

Consider switching to pure water or drinking carbonated beverages with a straw. You can reduce your consumption to a single glass of sparkling beverage before switching entirely to pure water. Some choose non-alcoholic drinks like white wine spritzers or sparkling water at social gatherings rather than cocktails, pure wine, or other straight liquors. Even if this is the case, it is better to snack on foods with less acid, such as nuts, crudites, avocados, and cheese.

There are lifestyle choices that are good for the oral cavity. You can eat some of these risky foods for your teeth with the proper precautions while limiting their adverse effects.

Sports beverages contain high sugar levels as well. A sports drink can come in handy during intense workouts. However, regular consumption is discouraged because of the multiple side effects of the drink's high sugar level. Before purchasing these beverages, explore the packaging and labels to be sure they contain reduced sugar content.

Alcoholic Beverages

Occasional alcohol consumption could be part of a healthy way of life. However, excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to several long-term issues. Although many individuals are aware of the risks associated with excessive alcohol intake, such as metabolic disorders, metabolic abnormalities, and liver cirrhosis, many fail to recognize how alcoholic beverages can lead to oral issues. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, regular alcohol consumption amounts to two drinks per day for men and one drink for women.

Pure alcohol could not be sufficient to destroy teeth. However, most people consume mixed beverages, which contain significant levels of acid and sugar. This could lead to the formation of tooth decay and cavities. Excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to the deterioration of the salivary gland cells. This results in reduced flow and production of saliva.

Dry mouth provides an ideal habitat for bacteria to flourish. The bacteria could produce acids, infecting the gums and forming pockets. Furthermore, alcohol breaks down into sugar, which is detrimental to good dental health.

More bacteria penetrate the cavities through these pockets, which worsens the condition. A 2015 study revealed that people who drink a lot of alcohol are three times more likely to experience irreversible tooth loss in addition to gum diseases.

Individuals who consume alcohol frequently forget to clean their teeth or do not exercise good hygiene. Failure to brush your teeth and eliminate the acidic substances and sugars in alcoholic beverages can lead to severe tooth deterioration and cavities.

Consultation with your dentist is hardly the first thing that comes to mind when recovering from a bad hangover. However, you should be aware that the foods you take can affect your oral health. If you want to enjoy a few drinks, brush your teeth regularly and stay hydrated to protect your oral cavity.

Measures You Can Take To Avoid Tooth Decay

Aside from brushing and flossing regularly, there are other scientifically proven practices for maintaining oral health. These are:

  • Avoid Regular Snacking

Saliva helps wash away residual food particles, making it one of the key defenses of the oral cavity. It strengthens the enamel, remineralizes, and has bicarbonate, which helps neutralize the acids in the mouth.

  • Minimize Your Alcohol Intake

People who consume large amounts of alcohol should also take caution since alcohol can hinder normal salivation, which makes it harder for the body to remove food particles stuck in teeth.

  • Observe Any Adverse Effects of Prescription Drugs or Medical Conditions You Might Have

Various drugs and treatment medications, such as dialysis, tuberculosis, antihistamines, chemotherapy, and blood pressure, can reduce or change saliva production. Those who are affected should be especially careful about maintaining good dental hygiene.

  • Try Sugar-Free Alternatives

Switching from sugary foods and beverages to sugar-free options is ideal for good dental health.

  • Sugarless Xylitol Chewing Gum

Antimicrobial sugar alcohols, such as xylitol, have a similar effect on oral bacteria, which reduces their acid production.

  • Drink Specific Types of Beverage

You can avoid tooth decay by drinking green and black teas with higher pH and fluoride content.

  • Regular Dental Checkup

Dental cavities rank as the most common non-communicable disease globally. Routine oral examinations every 6 months are adequate to detect deterioration before it worsens.

Find an Experienced Dentist Near Me

Taking proper care of your dental health involves avoiding or limiting specific foods and beverages. Such foods may raise the risk of gum disease, cavities, fractured teeth, and diseases like oral cancer. Reducing or avoiding the foods and beverages mentioned above will help to protect your teeth and maintain your dental health.

You can consider eating a diet full of nourishing whole foods. If you would like to learn more about tooth cavities and how you can get treatment, contact our team at Ganji Dental in Hawthorne. Call us today at 310-643-8045 to schedule an appointment with one of our dental professionals.