10 Foods You Didnt Know Were Damaging Your Teeth
Most people know candy and other sugary foods wreak havoc on their teeth, but how about fruit? Youve probably heard brushing and flossing twice a day is the best way to keep your teeth healthy. But some foods cause enough damage to warrant extra cleanings. How does food damage your teeth? There are two main elements of food that tarnish your pearly whites: sugar and acid. Sugars, especially sucrose (table sugar), feed the millions of bacteria already in your mouth. Bacteria feast on your plaque buildup and produce lactic acid, which erodes your tooth enamel. Sucrose is the worst form of sugar because it adheres to teeth very strongly making it (and the bacteria) difficult to remove even when brushing. Acids naturally occur in many foods, including fruit. In these cases, bacteria arent necessary to produce acid and cause tooth decay. Instead, acidic foods eat away at your enamel and break down your teeth directly. Generally you can wash away natural acids by drinking water...