At The Woodlands Dental Group, we always let our patients know how important your daily diet is and the role that it plays in both oral and overall health. According to a 2016 study in Advanced in Nutrition, cavities are a problem for about 80 percent of the population across the world. It’s estimated that almost a quarter of adults in America have cavities that need to be treated in some way. The study goes on to say that one of the most significant reasons for all of this is due to a poor quality diet and high sugar consumption. Your Woodlands dentist sees how this is possible because the foods you eat and the nutrients contained in them, are part of having a healthy smile.
Coming to our Woodlands dental office for a cleaning, brushing your teeth at home, and flossing every day, are all things associated with having good oral hygiene. However, a healthy diet is key to helping strengthen your bones that support teeth and protects against the dangers of problems like tooth decay, gum disease (gingivitis), and oral cancer.
Here are the top three not-so-tooth-friendly foods that might surprise you:
Food #1 – Bananas
Yes, you read that right, bananas. Whether you’ve heard it before or not, a banana is something known as cariogenic. Because these fruits have such a soft texture, it’s quite easy for them to get stuck in the spaces between your teeth and gums. When they get to hanging out for too long, it can lead to unwanted and unnecessary tooth decay. Your Woodlands dentist says it’s best to eat bananas when you’ll know you can brush or rinse your teeth sooner rather than later.
Food #2 – Soy Sauce
This much-loved condiment accompanies Asian dishes and is seen as a little bit of a troublemaker in the eyes of some dentists. Why are they anti-soy? You have to be careful because soy sauce is one of the top six teeth-staining foods you can choose. When you consider all of the foods it’s used with and its rich color, it kind of makes sense!
Food #3 – Ice
While your dentist in The Woodlands isn’t sure how much you can consider ice as a “food,” but if you’re someone who loves it, then you know how sinful it can be. It feels good to crunch on ice, especially when the heat is high, but as satisfying as it may be, it could potentially damage your teeth. Ice cubes can crack and chip teeth with ease and cause an increase in sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures.
Are your teeth chipped or cracked? Do you have questions about tooth decay or your diet?
For more information, please contact us today:
Dr. Robert Dernick (General, Cosmetic, Implant Dentistry, and TMJ)
Dr. Mike Freeman (General, Cosmetic, Implant, Sleep Apnea, and TMJ)
Dr. Alisa Reed (General, Cosmetic, Implant, Laser, Sleep Apnea, and TMJ)
Dr. Wade Williams (Orthodontics)
Dr. Nikita Vakil (General, Cosmetic, Implant Dentistry)
Dr. Leslie Blackburn (Pediatric Dentistry)