5 "Health Foods" Your Dentist Wishes You Wouldn't Eat

Posted on December 23, 2024 in Healthy Living

Maintaining good dental health starts with your food choices. While many foods are recommended for their overall health benefits, some seemingly nutritious options can have hidden issues for your teeth. Understanding how these choices impact oral health is key to keeping your smile strong and vibrant.

Your dentist might wish you would think twice about these five health foods, which could be doing more harm than good to your pearly whites.

Health foods that aren’t healthy for your teeth

Consider swapping out these health foods for more tooth-friendly options.

1. Dried fruit 

Dried fruit contains nutrients that are good for your health. However, if the dried fruit you consume is covered in sugar, it isn’t friendly to your teeth. 

It’s no secret that sugar is harmful to oral health, especially when it comes to cavities.

“Sugars, specifically, are considered to be the most important drivers of cavity development,” according to the American Dental Association (ADA).

Another concern with dried fruits is that may get sticky during the drying process. Gooey foods are hard to clear away from teeth and often “stick around” longer than other foods, giving them more time to eat away at the hard portions of your teeth.

If you consume dried fruit, rinse your mouth with water and floss to clean your teeth after you’re done.

2. Citrus Fruits 

Citrus fruits are similar to dried fruits in that they can benefit your body, but too much citrus can harm your teeth. Oranges and grapefruits provide vitamin C and other nutrients, but their acidic compounds can damage teeth. Citrus fruits can erode tooth enamel, which can lead to tooth decay.

3. Protein and granola bars

For some, granola bars seem like the perfect quick snack. However, many granola bars contain sugar, artificial sweeteners, and other highly-processed ingredients like vegetable oils, preservatives, and artificial flavors.

When it comes to your oral health, the added sugar in this food may cause cavities, tooth decay, and other problems. Some may also contain sticky components like dried fruit bits, which can get stuck between your teeth.

If you can’t live without granola bars, find ones low in sugar or that use natural sweeteners like figs or dates. Remember to rinse your mouth with plain water afterward.

4. Sports drinks 

Despite their popularity, sports drinks tend to have large amounts of sugar. Consuming a sports drink is only slightly better than a regular soda in terms of sugar content.

Some of the biggest consumers of sports drinks are children and adolescents. A study from the Official Journal Of The American Academy Of Pediatrics found that while “daily consumption of sports drinks has decreased overall, sugar-sweetened sports drinks remain popular, with the majority of high school students drinking them at least weekly.”

It’s best to skip this drink and stick with water to rehydrate.

5. Energy gels

Like sports drinks, energy gels provide energy and carbohydrates, but the acid levels can cause tooth erosion and escalate the risk of dental health complications.

Despite athletes having good dental routines, energy gels and sports drinks have shown an “association between periodontal disease and impact on both daily activities and sports performance," according to a recent study. Competitive athletes should limit the use of energy gels to maintain a healthy mouth.

Keep a look out for deceptive health foods 

To maximize your oral health while eating healthier foods, keep in mind that hidden sugars and acidic compounds in foods can contribute to cavities and tooth decay. Even if you stay away from these foods, it’s still important to consistently brush, floss, and visit the dentist twice a year to ensure your mouth is healthy.