With summer just around the corner, many of us will be cutting down on the comfort foods and looking to healthier options to get in shape for our holidays.
But be warned people, experts now say that many of these so-called foods and snacks that are said to be healthy could actually be really bad for our teeth!
Many leading dentists have reported that the effects of certain food types and snacks including low-fat popcorn and beetroot may not be as innocent as they seem.
Let’s take a look at some of the “healthy culprits” and the effect they could be having on your teeth and gums.
Popcorn
According to the experts, snacking heavily on low-fat popcorn is something to stay clear of. Apparently, un-cracked kernel can crack or break a tooth and pieces of popcorn can lodge in between the teeth leading to an abscess or painful infections.
Ewan Bramley’s advice:
If you do enjoy popcorn, make sure you’re flossing daily to get rid of any trapped food and bacteria.
If you only brush you’re actually only cleaning part of your tooth and not flossing increases the potential risk of things like tooth decay!
Beetroot
Although extremely popular in salads, and rich in Vitamin A, D, calcium and fibre, beetroot, as you might expect, is a leading cause of teeth staining. And, if consumed regularly, can make your teeth look dull and darken them over time.
Ewan Bramley’s advice:
Only eat beetroot in moderation and make sure you give your mouth a good swill after you’ve had it.
Think of it like this, your teeth are like white shirts; anything that would stain a shirt is comparable to teeth over a certain time period. They will stain and fade eventually if you don’t clean and look after them properly.
Grapefruit
This highly popular breakfast fruit, known as a strong source of Vitamin C and a range of nutrients, should also be enjoyed in moderation.
Why? Well, the grapefruit has an amazingly high amount of citric acid in there and, believe it or not, has the same level of acid in it as the stomach. Imagine that on your teeth! Acid like this can definitely lead to tooth decay and erode your tooth enamel.
Ewan Bramley’s advice:
Make sure you chew a sugarless chewing gum after eating grapefruit. This will promote the production of saliva to restore balance in your mouth and will rehydrate it.
Did you find this article useful? Why not give it a share on your social media pages and spread the word about how your friends can keep teeth and gums in as good shape as your beach bods this summer?
For more information about oral health and how to keep your smile clean and healthy stay tuned to the Ewan Bramley Dental Care blog.
