8 foods that are bad for your teeth, according to dentists

Cathy Cassata
·5 min read
Paper Craft Red Lollipop Candy Leads to Tooth Decay on Purple Background Front View.
Dentists share the foods that can spell trouble for teeth. (Getty Creative)

You bought an electric toothbrush. You floss. But are you eating stuff that's known to wreck your teeth — or worse, have you seeking out an emergency dental appointment?

“Some foods and drinks can have a significant negative impact on dental health, causing damage, staining, cavities, etc.,” Dr. Erin Fraundorf, dentist at Boca Orthodontic and Whitening Studio in Missouri, tells Yahoo Life.

According to Fraundorf, a good general rule of thumb is that if something can stain a white T-shirt, it can also stain your teeth. “Things like coffee, tea, red wine, sodas, sports drinks, tomatoes, curry and berries contain pigments that cling to your tooth’s enamel and leave surface stains," she says.

Anything with a pH above or below neutral can harm enamel, adds Dr. Amy Sliwa Lies, DDS, owner of FiveSix Family Dental in Illinois. “Foods and drinks that contain sugar can feed the bacteria in your mouth. The bacteria, in turn, produce acid that can damage your enamel,” she says.

There are also some common culprits that can wreak havoc on your teeth — and keep your dentists very, very busy. Here's which food and drinks our dental experts want you to watch out for.

Caramels, gummy bears, Tootsie Rolls and Sour Patch Kids are tasty. They can also stick to teeth and provide fuel for bacteria, which in turn produce acid that leads to cavities. “Sticky candies are especially damaging as they cling to hard-to-reach places, making your toothbrush less effective,” says Fraundorf.

Adds Lies: "The sugar-free versions of the above are better, but still problematic." Limiting consumption of these candies and rinsing or brushing your teeth soon after you eat them can reduce damage.

Jawbreaker candy, peppermints and other similarly crunchy candies expose teeth to sugar for extended periods of time and put your teeth at risk for chipping when bitten. “Avoid frequent consumption and never bite down on them,” says Fraundorf.

What's the harm in crackers like saltines and Goldfish? These starchy snacks are easy for bacteria to break down into sugar. As dentist Dr. Mark Burhenne warns in a recent Instagram post, "Goldfish create a sticky paste that clings to teeth, feeding cavity-causing bacteria for hours."

If you (or your child) can't resist, Fraundorf suggests eating the crackers with a meal and then brushing and flossing afterward to remove residue left between the teeth.

Anyone who's had braces may remember warnings about eating tortilla chips that could damage dental work. Otherwise, the biggest risk these and other hard, crunchy chips pose is the potential for a sharp jab to the gums or roof of the mouth.

These chips should also be eaten with caution if someone has a compromised tooth that is susceptible to breaking if they bite down the wrong way.

“The tooth may have had a filling or decay or an existing crack, which is common in people who grind their teeth," says Lies. "Teeth that have had a root canal treatment tend to be more brittle and will break off more easily."

Citrus fruits like lemons, oranges and grapefruit are high in acid, which weakens enamel, especially with frequent and direct exposure. “Enjoy in moderation and rinse your mouth with plain, flat water afterward,” advises Fraundorf.

Dried fruit tends to be sticky and adhere to teeth. “And while the sugar is natural, they are high in sugar, providing fuel for cavity-causing bacteria,” Fraundorf notes. “Rinse or brush after eating them or opt for fresh fruits that have water content.” As WebMD reports, apples, pears and melons all fit the bill.

Chewing ice can chip, crack or weaken teeth, especially as enamel thins with age. “Any food or drink can damage our teeth at an accelerated rate when we are older because our enamel is thinner or sometimes worn through to the dentin — the inner layer of the tooth — and less resistant to changes in pH/bacteria,” Lies explains.

But even teeth that are in otherwise good condition are vulnerable to ice, Lies adds. “Chewing ice is probably the No. 1 thing that will break a virgin tooth" — meaning, a tooth that hasn't had cavities, filings or dental work — according to Lies.

If ice is the No. 1 threat to healthy teeth, popcorn kernels aren't far behind. "Second place would be a kernel of popcorn,” says Lies. And, as Colgate notes, it's not just those hard, unpopped kernels — which can crack a tooth or damage dental implants — that make popcorn risky. Hulls can also get stuck between the teeth or even irritate the gums and cause an abscess to form.

While many foods can be harmful to teeth, Lies reminds us that teeth exist so we can eat. She suggests the following ways to keep your teeth as healthy as possible.

  • Keep the time foods and drinks are consumed to a 20-minute window. Limit snacks.

  • Drink water or chew sugar-free gum after eating to stimulate saliva and return the pH in your mouth to neutral.

  • Drink fluoridated water and use toothpaste with fluoride to help remineralize enamel.

  • Brush teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once a day to remove plaque and food debris, which contain bacteria that can excrete acid onto your teeth.

Fraundorf says that it's worth adding other, more tooth-friendly foods to your diet.

"Fight stains with fruits and veggies like strawberries, apples and watermelon, which all contain a lot of malic acid, [which is] known to whiten your teeth by removing surface stains and increasing saliva," she says. "Eat celery and leafy greens because they exfoliate plaque off your teeth. Dark, leafy greens contain calcium (which counteracts the effects of acids) and folic acid, which is essential to gum tissue cell growth."

Latest Stories