Everything in moderation—especially foods that cause cavities and stains. Avoiding these foods—along with a regular brushing and flossing routine—is the key to keeping a whiter smile. Check out our list of foods that are bad for your teeth. You may just be surprised at what you discover!
Here’s a shocker: Candy is bad for you! It’s not just the calories, either. Caramels and taffy stick to your teeth, providing a sugary feast for tooth-damaging bacteria. Tart candies deliver acid to your teeth, eroding enamel. And hard candies, which dissolve slowly, allow sugar to linger in the mouth. Chewing hard candy isn’t any better—you can chip your teeth on them.
Sugary sodas aren’t doing your body any favors. However, don’t think you’re in the clear if you stick to diet drinks. It’s the acid, not the sugar, that causes major damage and staining. Phosphoric acid, in particular, is an enamel-eroding powerhouse. Colas are worse than clear sodas, but you’re still much better off with seltzer than soda.
While oranges, lemons, and grapefruits are a great source of vitamin C, they’re also highly acidic. That acid can damage the enamel on your teeth. Orange juice is the least acidic, but you should consider drinking water instead.
Research has found that coffee stains on your tooth enamel are incredibly hard to get rid of. They’re even worse than tobacco stains, and unfortunately, the intensive bleach treatments needed to get rid of coffee stains actually make your teeth more likely to become stained in the future. If you switch to tea for your caffeine fix, choose green or white varieties. Black teas contain high levels of tannin, which will stain your teeth just as much as coffee over time.
Your teeth don’t like too much acid. Pickles, which are made using vinegar, delivers a jolt of acid every time you crunch down. As with citrus, pickles are fine for an occasional snack, but daily consumption is directly linked to enamel loss. You need that enamel for a whiter smile!
Amazingly enough, lemon-lime Gatorade actually caused more tooth damage than Coke in a clinical study. Sports drinks are basically sugar water with some salt and acid thrown in, so skip the sweet drinks entirely. The dyes and artificial flavors aren’t particularly good for you either.
Snacking on crunchy treats every now and then is fine, as long as you’re keeping up with your brushing and flossing routine. But be aware that chips and crackers tend to turn into a carbohydrate-loaded paste that gets stuck in between your teeth while you chew. If you’re not careful, bacteria will snack on that, too.
Sorry vino lovers, but a whiter smile means less red wine. Tannins are your enemy when it comes to white, healthy-looking teeth. That’s why red wine stains enamel. But the acid in both red and white wines can cause your teeth to be more susceptible to stains from other foods in the future, too.
