Dentists have long warned about the harmfulness of certain foods, such as gummies or chocolates, when it comes to oral health, but did you know that it’s not just sweets that harm the well-being of teeth?
Regardless of the age of the individual, care must be taken with excessive consumption of fruit juicesin soft drinks, cakes, processed products and even refined cereals, just to name a few examples. This is because they are foods that contain tremendous amounts of sugaroften “hidden” in labels.
But why is sugar harmful? Because our mouth has bacteria that feed on it and that, in doing so, produce acids that destroy the enamel, the outer layer of the tooth and the most resistant tissue in the human body. In other words, it is the first barrier protecting the tooth from external damage, and without it, the dentin (inner layer) is vulnerable.
To the list are added the acidic drinkssuch as carbonated soft drinks (minus carbonated water), energetic and the citrus fruits, such as lemon or orange. “In addition to the added sugar, they contain citric acid and phosphoric acid, which will also dissolve the enamel”, cause erosion and lead to cavities, Élodie Terrer, a dentist, told the Madame Figaro. Also pay attention to liquids that reduce the flow of saliva – such as alcohol – as it also protects the teeth from bad bacteria.
Solutions
In these cases, the worst thing a person can do is not brush their teeth after eating, as the food stays in contact with the enamel for a long time, damaging it. As such, the solution goes through brush your teeth 15 minutes later of the meal or snack, without forgetting the dental floss, in addition to limit consumption of harmful foods.