So what food and drink items are bad for your teeth?

There are plenty of food and drink items that everybody knows to steer clear of to maintain healthy teeth such as sugary fizzy drinks, boiled sweets and chocolate bars.

But what about a fruit yoghurt? Or some salad dressing? Or even some dried fruit pieces? Some of the healthy options can be just as bad for your teeth as a can of pop!

You may be surprised to know that it all comes down to acid. Whether contained in foods, or converted from sugars by your mouth's bacteria, acid can erode your teeth's enamel, jumpstarting cavities and tooth decay.

What other food and drink items should you be aware of?

There are also some kitchen cupboard staples that contain a higher level of sugar than you might think. Tomato soup, baked beans, ketchup, cereal bars or tinned fruit all tend to have a high sugar content (as does alcohol unfortunately) whilst  drinks such as fruit juices, lemon juice, sports drinks and even sugar free water can be very acidic. If you want to play it really safe stick to water and milk.

The enamel on your teeth can easily be damaged by prolonged exposure to those foods and drinks but your body needs the nutrients that they provide, so what’s the solution? At Kilbarchan Dental Practice we would always recommend drinking water immediately after you eat which can neutralize the acids and help wash them away. If you have a toothbrush handy, brush your teeth 20 minutes or so after your rinse-off. It is also better to eat these things as a part of a meal rather than a snack so the time that your teeth are in contact with the foods is limited.

So make sure that you read the packaging before you tuck in and keep drinking plenty of water!

If you have any queries regarding oral health don't hesitate to visit us at the practice or call us on 01505 704969.