5 Foods You Didn’t Realize Were Harming Your Gums
Not all healthy foods are good for your oral health.
A major concern of many elderly folk is the state of their teeth and gums. Gum infections and tooth decay can cause lots of complications, which also happen to be very expensive to deal with.
But while you know that eating a taffy or drinking a soda can lead to serious problems down the line, you are probably less aware of some more healthier foods that can lead to gum issues.
Here are 5 to take into consideration:
Fruit
Yes, fruit.
Surprised?
Well, not all fruit. Here’s a breakdown:
Dried Fruit
Dried fruit, while delicious and healthy, is also sticky and full of sugar. If you’re a fan of dried fruit, make sure to clean your teeth well after enjoying some of it.
Fruit Juice
The culprit here is the sugar and acid levels. Not all fruit beverages were created equal in this aspect. For example, carrot, peach, and apple juice are safer for your gums and teeth than cranberry, citrus, and tomato juice.
Citrus Fruit
Citrus fruit is full of acid, which can eat away at the enamel of your teeth, leading to decay and gum disease.
Potato Chips
Although potato chips don’t feel sticky on your hands they are so for your teeth. The chips get stuck in your teeth and the starchy food puts acid right where you want it least.
The chips also dry your mouth out which means less saliva. Saliva serves an important role in your oral health. It keeps your teeth wet so food doesn’t get stuck to them and it fixes early indications of oral infections and gum disease.
Alcohol
Alcohol makes the list of foods to avoid for healthier gums, since it affects your oral health by drying up your saliva, similar to potato chips. So if you didn’t have any reason to avoid excessive alcohol until now, here’s your motive.
Coffee
Coffee helps the bacteria in your mouth produce acid. As already mentioned, this can wreak havoc on the enamel of your teeth.
In addition, like potato chips and alcohol, coffee makes you have less saliva to repair any early gum disease or oral infections.
Can you recommend any other foods to avoid for healthier gums?
Please share in the comments below.