When it comes to maintaining good oral health, brushing and flossing regularly is just the tip of the iceberg. What you eat and drink can have a major impact on the health of your teeth and gums.

Some foods are notorious for causing damage to your teeth, while others can help promote good oral health. Here are the top 30 foods that attack your teeth:.

Sugary Drinks

Drinks that are high in sugar, like soda, sports drinks, and fruit juice, can cause serious damage to your teeth. The sugar in these drinks feeds the bacteria in your mouth, which produces acid that erodes the enamel on your teeth.

Over time, this can cause cavities, tooth decay, and even tooth loss.

Acidic Foods

Acidic foods like citrus fruits, tomatoes, and pickles can also be harmful to your teeth. The acid in these foods can erode your tooth enamel, making your teeth more susceptible to decay and sensitivity.

If you’re going to eat acidic foods, try to eat them with other foods to help neutralize the acid.

Starchy Foods

Foods that are high in starch, like breads, crackers, and chips, can be just as harmful to your teeth as sugary foods. Starches break down into sugar in your mouth, which can cause the same issues as sugary drinks and foods.

Dried Fruit

Dried fruits may seem like a healthy snack, but they’re actually quite damaging to your teeth. They’re sticky and stay on the surface of your teeth, providing the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive.

They’re also high in sugar, which leads to decay and cavities.

Candy

Candy is one of the worst things you can eat for your teeth. It’s high in sugar, sticky, and stays in your mouth for a long time.

This creates the perfect environment for bacteria to flourish and leads to tooth decay, cavities, and even gum disease.

Citrus Fruits

While citrus fruits are healthy, they can cause damage to your teeth. The acid in these fruits can erode your tooth enamel, making your teeth more susceptible to decay and sensitivity.

If you’re going to eat citrus fruits, try to eat them with other foods to help neutralize the acid.

Pickles

Pickles may be a low-calorie snack, but they’re also highly acidic. The acid in pickles can erode your tooth enamel, making your teeth more susceptible to decay and sensitivity.

If you’re going to eat pickles, try to eat them with other foods to help neutralize the acid.

Alcohol

Alcohol is extremely harmful to your teeth. It’s acidic and can erode your tooth enamel.

Additionally, alcohol dries out your mouth, making it more difficult for your body to produce saliva, which is essential for washing away bacteria and food particles.

Caffeine

Caffeine can be harmful to your teeth in a couple of ways. First, many caffeinated beverages, such as coffee and tea, are acidic and can erode your tooth enamel.

Second, caffeine can also cause your mouth to become dry, making it more difficult for your body to produce saliva.

Chewy Candy

Chewy candy, like gummy bears and taffy, is especially bad for your teeth. It’s sticky and stays in your mouth for a long time, creating the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive.

Additionally, it’s high in sugar, which leads to decay and cavities.

Soda

Soda is one of the worst things you can drink for your teeth. It’s high in sugar and acidic, which leads to tooth decay, cavities, and even gum disease.

If you’re going to drink soda, try to drink it through a straw to minimize contact with your teeth.

Corn on the Cob

Corn on the cob may be a summer staple, but it’s also quite damaging to your teeth. The kernels can get stuck in your teeth and create a breeding ground for bacteria. Additionally, the fibers can also get stuck in your teeth and cause damage.

Ice

Many people like to chew on ice, but it’s a bad habit for your teeth. Ice is hard and can cause chips and cracks in your teeth. Additionally, chewing on ice can also irritate your gum tissue.

Related Article 10 Foods that Can Cause Tooth Decay

Crackers

Crackers are another food that are high in starch and break down into sugar in your mouth. In addition to being harmful to your teeth, they also lack nutritional value and can contribute to weight gain.

Potato Chips

Potato chips are another food that’s high in starch and can be just as harmful to your teeth as sugary foods. They also lack nutritional value and can contribute to weight gain.

Lemonade

Lemonade is high in sugar and acidic, making it one of the worst things you can drink for your teeth. Additionally, many people drink lemonade through a straw, which can also damage your teeth.

Peanut Butter

Peanut butter is often touted as a healthy snack, but it’s also quite damaging to your teeth. It’s sticky and can get stuck in your teeth, creating the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive.

Additionally, many brands of peanut butter also contain added sugar, which leads to decay and cavities.

White Bread

White bread is highly processed and lacks nutritional value. In addition to being harmful to your teeth, it can also contribute to weight gain and other health issues.

Sports Drinks

Sports drinks are high in sugar and acidic, making them just as harmful to your teeth as soda. Additionally, many people drink sports drinks while exercising, which can lead to dehydration and dry mouth.

Energy Drinks

Energy drinks may give you a quick boost of energy, but they’re terrible for your teeth. They’re high in sugar and acidic, which leads to decay and cavities.

Additionally, many energy drinks also contain caffeine, which can cause your mouth to become dry.

Coffee

Coffee is highly acidic and can erode your tooth enamel. Additionally, many people add sugar to their coffee, which leads to decay and cavities.

Red Wine

Red wine is highly acidic and can erode your tooth enamel. Additionally, it can stain your teeth and lead to discoloration.

Soy Sauce

Soy sauce is highly acidic and can erode your tooth enamel. Additionally, it can stain your teeth and lead to discoloration.

Cranberry Juice

Cranberry juice is often touted as being good for your urinary tract, but it’s terrible for your teeth. It’s highly acidic and can erode your tooth enamel.

Additionally, it’s often sweetened with sugar, which leads to decay and cavities.

Tomato Sauce

Tomato sauce is highly acidic and can erode your tooth enamel. Additionally, it can stain your teeth and lead to discoloration.

Balsamic Vinegar

Balsamic vinegar is highly acidic and can erode your tooth enamel. Additionally, it can stain your teeth and lead to discoloration.

Hard Candy

Hard candy, like lollipops and sucking candy, is another food that’s high in sugar and stays in your mouth for a long time. This creates the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive and leads to decay and cavities.

Popcorn

Popcorn can be quite harmful to your teeth. The kernels can get stuck in your teeth and create a breeding ground for bacteria. Additionally, the hard, unpopped kernels can also chip your teeth.

Carrots

While carrots are generally considered to be a healthy snack, they can be harmful to your teeth if they’re not cooked properly. Raw carrots are hard and can chip your teeth.

If you’re going to eat raw carrots, make sure they’re cut into small pieces.

Canned Fruit

Canned fruit may seem like a healthy option, but it’s often sweetened with sugar and lacks the nutritional value of fresh fruit. Additionally, the fruit is often packed in syrup, which can lead to decay and cavities.

Cereal

Cereal is often marketed as a healthy breakfast option, but many brands are high in sugar and lack nutritional value. Additionally, many people add milk to their cereal, which can lead to decay and cavities.

Conclusion

While it’s impossible to completely avoid all foods that are harmful to your teeth, being mindful of what you eat can go a long way in maintaining good oral health.

If you’re going to eat foods that are high in sugar, starch, or acid, try to eat them with other foods to help neutralize their effects, and make sure to brush and floss regularly to keep your teeth healthy and strong.