As much as your teeth are built to chew and bite your food, certain types of food can actually damage your teeth. The following types of food can cause your teeth to break or decay. Try to limit your consumption of these foods whenever possible.

Sugary Foods

The first type of food that can cause damage to your teeth includes any foods that are high in added sugar. Sugar can be one of the most damaging substances for your teeth. When you eat sugary foods, it’s easy for bits of the sugary substance to cling to your teeth even after you’re finished. This food residue attracts bacteria to the area, which then eat away at your enamel until they reach the inner nerve center of your tooth. If you’re not careful with the sugary food you eat, you can end up not only with cavities but with severe tooth decay and other oral health issues. Of course, this doesn’t mean you can never eat sugar for the rest of your life. Just try to limit your sugar consumption, and be sure to brush and floss your teeth thoroughly after eating sugary foods.

Hard Foods

Another type of food that can damage your teeth is hard foods. This may sound vague, but it’s basically any food that, if you chew or bite it, has the potential to chip or damage your tooth. Once again, many types of candy make up this category such as lollipops and other hard candies. Other examples are ice, popcorn kernels, and hard pretzels. Your teeth, while strong, are not indestructible. If you use them improperly and chew things that are too hard for your teeth, you could cause damage. If you get braces, you are often restricted from eating these types of food to protect your teeth and the mechanisms attached to them. Invisalign doesn’t come with the food limitations of traditional braces. However, you should still watch out for hard foods in your diet.

Carbonated Drinks

Finally, to have healthy and strong teeth, it’s important to limit your consumption of carbonated drinks and soda. These drinks are loaded with sugar and can cause erosion of the enamel of your teeth. Enamel is the hard, outer layer of your tooth that protects the nerve endings on the inside, so it’s essential that it remains intact. Drinking soda and other carbonated drinks all day coats your teeth in substances that lead to cavities and other dental health issues. Darker sodas can also stain your teeth.

It’s no secret that some foods are harmful to your teeth. Certain foods have been linked to significant dental harm and should be avoided if possible. To ensure that your teeth remain healthy and strong for years to come, try to limit your consumption of these foods.

Check out this article on why you should eat more fresh fruits and vegetables!