The worst and best food for your teeth

Even though the number of cavities has decreased significantly in recent decades, a large number of people, particularly children and adolescents, still suffer from this health issue.

To prevent tooth decay, your dentist has surely told you to brush your teeth frequently and go to the dentist on a regular basis. But did you know that diet also plays a big role in determining your oral health? Here’s a roundup of the worst and best food for your teeth.



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Cariogenic food: Soft drinks

In addition to promoting obesity, soft drinks are one of the worst foods for your teeth. High in acid and sugar, soft drinks attack your tooth enamel. If you drink them regularly, you’ll be putting your teeth at higher risk of dental erosion, sensitivity, and cavities.



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Cariogenic food: Candy

Kids know they shouldn’t eat too much candy if they don’t want to get cavities. Loaded with sugar, candy, especially chewy candy—like caramel, taffy, and licorice—that sticks to your teeth are especially bad for your enamel.



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Cariogenic food: Chips

They may not be as sweet as candy, but chips and crackers can be just as bad for your teeth. These starchy foods stick to your teeth, promoting tooth decay.



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Cariogenic food: Dried fruit

It may be packed with vitamins, minerals, and fibre, but dried fruit can be bad for your oral health. Sticky and sweet, dried fruit is a great food source for bacteria that cause tooth erosion and cavities.



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Cariogenic food: Alcoholic beverages

It’s not the alcohol content in alcoholic beverages that’s bad for your teeth—the real culprit is actually the sugar. When the sugar in alcohol combines with the bacteria in your mouth, it forms plaque, a major risk factor for cavities.



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Cariogenic food: Energy drinks

Consumed in large quantities, energy drinks aren’t just bad for your health—due to their high acidity levels, they can also cause “irreversible damage to teeth,” according to one study. If you consume energy drinks on a regular basis, you’re more likely to develop cavities than the average person.



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Cariogenic food: Ice cubes

Chewing on an ice cube during the summer may be refreshing, but it’s not the best habit to adopt when it comes to your teeth. Eating ice cubes on a regular basis can weaken tooth enamel. And a tooth whose enamel has eroded is more sensitive to temperature changes and more susceptible to cavities.



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Cariogenic food: Fruit juice

Sweet and acidic, fruit juice, especially fruit cocktails and punches, are bad for your teeth. By causing dental erosion, fruit juice increases your risk of developing painful cavities.



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Cariogenic food: White bread

Looking for another good reason to stop eating white bread? Did you know that it’s bad for your oral health? The simple carbohydrates in white bread have the bad habit of sticking to your teeth. By staying longer in the mouth, they promote the onset of tooth decay.



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Cariogenic food: White pasta

While white pasta might solve your weeknight dinner dilemma, you better brush your teeth well after eating it. Why? With its sticky texture, white pasta attaches to your teeth and is hard to remove, even with saliva and working it with your tongue. While it’s stuck to your teeth, it serves as a good source of food for bacteria that cause tooth decay.



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Anti-cavity food: Milk

Rich in calcium and vitamin D, milk is good for your oral health. Even if it contains lactose, a type of sugar, it still keeps cavities at bay. However, children who suck on a bottle of milk in bed to fall asleep aren’t reaping the benefits. Instead, the milk is causing tooth decay.



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Anti-cavity food: Cheese

When you eat cheese, you’re fighting dental erosion, a risk factor for cavities. According to researchers, eating cheese reduces acidity in the mouth (bacteria love acidic environments) by promoting saliva production.



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Anti-cavity food: Yogurt

When it comes to fighting dental decay, yogurt is one of the best foods. Yogurt helps remineralize tooth enamel, while decreasing mouth acidity. Just be sure to choose a sugar-free yogurt to reap the benefits.



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Anti-cavity food: Cranberries

Although the effectiveness of cranberries in treating urinary tract infections is not universally accepted by the scientific community, this small red berry is scientifically recognized as one of the best anti-cavity foods. It’s packed with polyphenols (antioxidants) that are particularly effective in combating oral acidity and dental plaque.



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Anti-cavity food: Nuts

Packed with protein and healthy fat, nuts like cashews help get rid of harmful bacteria from the mouth and remove sticky foods, like dried fruit. Just be sure to steer clear of nuts coated with maple syrup or honey, as the sugar can lead to cavities.



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Anti-cavity food: Onions

Famous for giving you bad breath, onions are nevertheless one of the best foods for your teeth. Some of the chemical compounds found in onions directly attack several types of bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease. For best results, choose organic, locally grown onions.



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Anti-cavity food: Apples

They may be sweet and acidic, but apples are actually good for your teeth. Biting into an apple stimulates saliva production and gets rid of the bacteria responsible for tooth decay. After eating an apple, however, wait about 30 minutes before brushing your teeth to avoid brushing away the enamel.



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Anti-cavity food: Water

Not only is water the best beverage when it comes to staying hydrated, but it also rinses your mouth and removes small food residue, without the harmful effects of acidic or sugary drinks. In addition, fluoridated water, available in some municipalities, is a great way to prevent the onset of tooth decay.



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Anti-cavity food: Dark chocolate

Yes, you can fight cavities by eating chocolate! But you need to opt for dark chocolate, which contains little sugar and lots of polyphenols. According to research, the polyphenols in cocoa are great at combating the bacteria responsible for dental plaque and oral acid, according to research.



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Anti-cavity food: Black tea

In addition to being good for your heart and bones, black tea is also good for your oral health. The catechins and theaflavins, polyphenolic compounds found in this hot beverage, help prevent cavities and oral cancer.



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