Your dental health is important for your overall health, and what you eat can have a big impact on your risk of cavities. Fortunately, by avoiding or limiting certain foods, you can help to protect your teeth.

1. Citrus Fruits

Grapefruits, lemons, oranges, and other citrus fruits are delicious, and they provide lots of essential vitamins and nutrients. However, acidic fruits like these can be damaging to your teeth if eaten regularly in large quantities. Consider limiting the number of acidic fruits you consume and rinsing your teeth with water after eating.

2. Hard or Chewy Candy

Are you someone who loves candy now and again? Surprisingly, chocolate may be the ideal candy choice to turn to. This is because chocolate is quickly eaten and leaves little residue behind. This isn’t the same for other types of candy. Chewy candy, like taffy or caramel, gets stuck in the teeth where it feeds the bacteria in your mouth that produce cavities. Similarly, hard candy lasts long in the mouth, coating the teeth in sugar. While it’s okay to have these types of candies occasionally, we don’t recommend frequent pieces.

3. Pickles (and Other Pickled Foods)

Here’s something your dentist will confirm: pickled foods are surprisingly not good for your teeth. The vinegar used to pickle foods can increase the pH of your mouth, which can wear away at your enamel and cause damage.

4. Certain Beverages

Speaking of increasing the acidity of your mouth, do you wake up every morning with tea, coffee, or an energy drink? That caffeine boost can help you wake up, but when consumed regularly can also harm your teeth. Coffee and tea can leave stains behind even if you brush them regularly, and energy drinks (like pickled foods) can increase the pH balance of your mouth, wearing down your enamel and putting you at an increased risk of cavities.

Working with a great dentist can help restore your teeth, but it’s best to take preventative measures to keep your dental health in great shape. About one in every six Americans has admitted that they can’t remember the last time they visited the dentist, according to the New York Post. If you’re looking for an experienced dentist in your area, be sure to reach out to our office at Phillips & Schmitt to schedule an appointment!